YEOW-ZA Apple Crisp

As I go throughout my day, I look about this great big world God has created and given us.  I am simply overwhelmed at the abundance, but none more so than on grocery day.

Nothing quite says, "God is the provider of abundant blessings," like a colorful, full crisper drawer!

Unless, of course it is these beautiful, juicy apples...

That I promptly made into a crisp. 
I mean, seriously, is there anything better to do with apples?  (If your answer is "yes," then shoot the recipe my way!)

I have tried several crisp recipes and all are good.  But this one?  This one is great.  Wonderful.  Beyond Delish.  It's YEOW-ZA!  

I adapted this from several different recipes, so I'm sure you'll recognize the cast of characters:

Apple Goodness
2 1/2 Tbs. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 heaping Tsp. apple pie spice
1/8 tsp. salt  (do you really measure for 1/8 tsp?  I just shake some in the bowl...)
6 c. crisp apples, peeled, cored, and cut into smallish chunks (I used Granny Smith and Fiji)

Crisp Topping
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. rolled oats (either quick or slow cook -- I used a bit of both)
1/2 c. butter, melted
1/2 c. pecans, chopped
1/4 c. caramel sauce (optional, but it does take this to a whole different level -- a YEOW-ZA level)

It would be great if I was skilled enough with my new camera to have taken photos all along the baking process, but alas, I am awaiting the arrival of the owner's manual to figure out my new shooter.

So, bear with me...

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 8" x 8" baking dish. 
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, pie spice and salt. 
Peel, core, and chop apples.
Add to flour mixture and toss until well coated.
Transfer apple goodness to baking dish.

In another large mixing bowl (or, just wash and dry the one you used for the apple mixture), stir together the brown sugar, flour, pie spice and oats. 
Pour in melted butter and mix until well blended.  It will sorta look like cookie dough.  Very buttery cookie dough.  Very yummy, buttery cookie dough.  I won't look if you wanna taste it. 
Evenly spread/sprinkle the crisp mixture over the apple goodness. 
Place baking dish on a cookie sheet to catch any drips.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, testing apples for softness.
Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with pecans and drizzle carmel sauce over the entire crisp.
Let cool (if you can wait that long) to set up and allow caramel to melt into the crispy topping.
Get a fork friends, and be prepared to eat the entire crisp.
Yes.  It's that good!

Here's the crisp after MotorMan and I tried a wee little sample.

 

See all those yummy chunks of apple sprinkled with spices?  How about those luscious pecans (do you say pea-kan or puh-cahn?)  And the crisp on the top?  YEOW-ZA!!

Make this today.

I said, today. 

It's good for your health.  (Not really, but I'll look for any excuse to consume yummy baked goods!)

"An apple a day..." And this one has 4 large apples.  Whoa, Nelly!  I can stretch this health benefit for days!

Enjoying God's abundance,

GHM