Fruit Crisp Mix

It may be still cold enough somewhere in the world to make a warm dessert. We're pushing it. After wandering around my yard for about two hours bare foot, I knew we had achieved Spring. However, I wanted to share on of my favorite mixes for Mix Monday. I love fruit crisp. If you ever have the chance to make one, I highly recommend it as a comforting dessert at the end of a nice home style meal. We usually serve it with a little sweet cream drizzled over the top. When I'm feeling more evil, it gets a healthy scoop of ice cream. This is a fresh peach and pear crisp with hazelnut cream.

My Basic Fruit Crisp Recipe
Crisp Topping Mix:

1 cup rolled oats or quick oats (or 1/2 cup cornflake crumbs, 1/2 cup rolled oats)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp high grade cinnamon or Chef Tess Wise Women of the East Spice Blend
1/2 cup chopped nuts (of your choice, I love hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, or walnuts)
1/2 tsp dried lemon zest.

Combine topping ingredients in a 1 quart bag and save for whenever you want crisp. I've given this mix with a home canned jar of fruit and cooking instructions. It's a wonderfully thoughtful gift. Don't you think?

To prepare:

You will need 4 cups prepared fruit (I used peaches and pears for this one, peeled, seeded, and sliced. You can used fresh or frozen berries, plums, apples or cherries.)

Put 4 cups fruit in an 8inch by 8 inch casserole. Add 1/4 cup melted butter to the topping mix. Stir well. Sprinkle over the fruit. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 40-45 minutes. Serve warm with whip cream or ice cream.

There you go.

Fruit Crisp

My Basic Fruit Crisp Recipe

4 cups fruit (apples, peaches, cherries, berries,plums, pears --mix and match -- be creative!)
pits removed and for apples, sliced thin..

Topping:
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup rolled oats or quick oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp high grade cinnamon (Like Pampered Chef's)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (of your choice, I love hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, or walnuts)
1 tsp lemon zest.

Combine topping ingredients. Put fruit in an 8inch by 8 inch casserole and top with the topping. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 40-45 minutes. Serve warm with whip cream or ice cream... Sooooo easy!!

I made this crisp with apples, pears and 1/4 cup of cranberry juice concentrate so they where a little more tart.