Apples and Pumpkins and Hayrides, oh my.

Weren't we just basking in the sun enjoying coolers on the deck? How quickly the weather changed. Autumn is near and it's getting cooler every day. The leaves are turning colors and soon they will fall and cover the ground in a blanket of red and orange. Slip on a light jacket, grab the kids and head to your favorite orchard where there are trees over flowing with ripe apples just waiting to be harvested. Let the picking begin. Tis also the season for the never ending list of recipes for those crisp apples.

My fresh Raspberry Apple Crisp is just the right treat after a long day gathering your apples and hiking up the orchard trails.

You will need six green apples, lemon juice, flour, brown sugar, sugar, allspice and cinnamon, quick oats, one stick of melted butter and one pint of washed raspberries.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Peel the apples. Remove the core and slice into thin wedges. Place them in a bowl and drizzle with 1/3 teaspoon lemon juice. This will halt the browning reaction. Add 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup flour, three pinches of allspice and two pinches of cinnamon. Mix well and set aside.

In a separate bowl combine 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 teaspoons sugar and the melted butter. Incorporate well. You may need to use your hands to make crumbs and we all know that food made with our hands always tastes the best.

Prepare a 13' by 9" baking dish with cooking spray.

Place the apple mixture into the dish and cover with the oat topping. Scatter the fresh raspberries over that and gently toss.

Bake in the oven on the middle rack until the apples soften and achieve a nice toasty color on top. About 30-35 minutes.

Carefully remove the raspberry apple crisp from the oven and let cool some. Serve with a scoop of your favorite ice cream and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Enjoy your warm dessert, put your feet up and perhaps there may be a foot massage in your near future.

Now what do I do with my pumpkins?

Until next time, mangiare bene!