Everyone needs essentials in their wardrobe, you know, the black pair of pants, the trench coat, the white t shirt.  I consider an apple crisp to be an "essential" in one's culinary repertoire. It's simple to make but never fails to make an impression.  Serve with ice cream, whipped cream, or if you're English, custard.  Of course there are endless variations to an apple crisp, blackberries, cranberries, blueberries or pears just for starters. But to a minimalist mind an apple crisp with a pinch of cinnamon is the perfect Fall dessert.

Apple Crisp.

For the apples.

7-9 apples, peeled, cored and sliced

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Zest and juice of an orange

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

For the Crisp.

1 cup all purpose flour

1 cup oatmeal

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/3 cup brown sugar

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cup into cubes

Heat the oven to 375F

Peel, core and slice the apples.

Combine the apple slices with the sugar, vanilla extract, zest and juice of the orange.  Place the ingredients into a pie dish.

In a large bowl combine the flour, oatmeal, cinnamon and sugar.

Add the butter and rub into the flour mixture until the butter is the size of peas.  Pour the crisp topping on top of the apples.

Place the pie dish on a baking tray, put into the oven and bake for approximately 50 minutes or until golden and bubbling around the edges.

Remove from the oven, cool a little and serve.