Pinepig's Virtual Garden

Just put an apple crumble in the oven. Yummmmm. I'll put the recipe up here but realise it's more of a "what do you have on hand" recipe than an "oh but I don't have any of that or that" recipe. Here's what I put in all amounts are an approximate. It's a great autumn/wintery desert but those of you in summer can make it if it isn't too hot to use the oven or if you'll be eating outside!

Ingredients for Apple Crumble for 2

- 2 apples (I used one NZ Rose and one Granny Smith)
- approx 3 TBLS to 4 TBLS brown sugar
- approx 2 tsp to 3 tsp ground cinnamon
- approx 1 tsp ground cloves
- approx 1 tsp ground ginger
- approx 1/2 to 3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- approx 1 tsp to 2 tsp ground cardomom
- approx 1 tsp vanilla
- approx 2 TBLSP lemon juice (or orange juice; note: You can also use lemon and/or orange zest. I didn't this time but have in the past)
- 1 piece of crystalised ginger diced into tiny bits (you can use a small chunk of regular ginger or substitute for about 1/4 tsp of dried ginger)
- approx 3 to 4 TBLSP dried cranberries
- approx 3 to 4 TBLSP dried apricots (I used pre-chopped but you can also get about 2 to 3 dried apricots and chop them)
*You can use any dried fruit you want, I like to keep it simple with these 2 as the cranberry provides a nice contrast to the apples.
- approx 1 to 1 1/2 TBSP sliced almonds (or about 2 to 3 whole almonds chopped well; can also use same amount of other nuts)
- approx 1 cup oats
- approx 2 TBLSP melted butter

Directions
- Preheat oven to about 220C/448F
- Peel, core and slice apples into bite-sized cubes. Place in medium-sized bowl.
- Add all of the dried cranberries, apricots, the diced (or substituted) ginger, nuts, all of the vanilla and all of the lemon juice. Stir.
- Add 1/2 of the brown sugar and spices. This is to taste so if you aren't sure of how much to add, start with about 1 TBLSP brown sugar, 1/4 tsp nutmeg & cloves, about 1/2 tsp cardomom and 1 tsp cinnamon, stir and taste an apple to see if it suits you. Add a bit more if you want.
- Stir well. Butter a small oven-safe dish and pour apple/fruit into it.

- In another smallish bowl mix the oats, the rest of the brown sugar, spices and all of the melted butter. Again, with the sugar and spices it's to taste so you can start with the same amount as you put in the apple mix, tatse it and add more if you require. I like my stuff with a strong spice taste.
-Stir well. You want the oats to be damp but not swimming.
-Pour the oat mixture over the apple mixture and smooth out so it's evenly distributed.

-Cover with tin foil and bake approx 15 minutes covered, then remove the cover and bake another 8-10 minutes to crisp the top a bit.

-Serve on it's own, with ice cream, yoghurt or whipped cream.

Delic!