One of my favorite foods is apple crisp. Done right it can be a dessert, an afternoon snack or even breakfast. Some recipes are too heavy on the butter and sugar for this winter staple to be that versatile. The other option is to pair warm fruit with granola. Packaged granola is the easiest but I have yet to find a brand that doesn't contain too much fat and sugar.
Granola used to be health food for two reasons: it was home made and we physically worked harder so we could burn off the calories. Now, it usually comes in a box and is definitely not the food you want to snack on unless you are a lumberjack.
The solution is to whip up a batch of homemade granola as an after school activity. As always, trying to feed two birds with one crumb! Its easy, any kid could do it, and snacking along the way is perfectly ok! This recipe has wholesome ingredients, can be eaten by the handful as cereal and when I need a little something sweet, it graces my microwaved frozen blueberries. Virtue and taste in a single bowl.
Yes, there is butter and sugar in this topping but there are also oats and almonds, so the key will be portion size. Kids can eat this by the handful like a granola but the best way to serve it is with warm fruit (see Tip).
Ingredients:
1/4 cup (50 mL) whole wheat flour
1 cup (250 mL) packed brown sugar
1 cup (250 mL) rolled oats
1 cup (250 mL) slivered almonds
1 tsp (5 mL) cinnamon
1/4 tsp (1 mL) nutmeg
1/2 cup (125 mL) butter, melted
In bowl, combine flour, sugar, oats, nuts, cinnamon and nutmeg; blend in butter until crumbly. Spread on baking sheet. Bake in top third of 375°F (190°C) oven for 18 to 20 minutes until browned and crispy. Let cool completely. Refrigerate in jar or resealable plastic bag for up to 3 weeks.
Serves: 12
Preparation time: 10 MINUTES
Tip: Choose any frozen fruit you desire; we like apples or blueberries. Microwave a bowl of frozen fruit until melted and warmed. Top with a spoonful or two of the topping. A dollop of low-fat vanilla yogurt makes it even better. You can also use this to top ice cream or sliced berries. A little goes a long way.
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