Apple Crisp a la Kathryn

Contributed by Kathryn, Adult Services Manager at the East Cleveland Library

This is good. It's like apple pie without the crust, but better since the crispy part is great. I modified a recipe from this Kraft Foods Magazine I get in the mail. Make this for someone. They will love you forever, especially if you serve it hot with ice cream over it. You can also get away without peeling the apples, but I will warn you that the peel kinda gets annoying. If you have the time, take my advice and peel the apples.

8 cups thinly sliced peeled Granny Smith apples (about 4-5 large/2 lb.)
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar, divided
4 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided
1/3 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup butter
2 cups crushed Nilla Wafers (I used reduced fat)

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Toss apples with 1/4 cup of the brown sugar and 2 tsp. of the cinnamon.
COMBINE oats, the remaining brown sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon in medium bowl. Cut in margarine with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add wafer crumbs; mix well.

Spoon half the apples into a 8 or 9 inch baking dish. Spoon half the crumb mix over this. Spoon the rest of the apples and then top with the rest of the crumb mix. (You could also just dump all of the apples in the baking dish and dump all crumbs on it, but I like layers).

BAKE 30 minutes or until apples are tender.

Serve it hot with Vanilla ice cream!