Halloween Apple Crisp

     Another Halloween has come and gone.  The past four years have been a whole new Halloween experience for my family, thanks to my nephews.  This year they made it home from North Carolina just in time to trick or treat.  Last year, Halloween fell on a weekend and our spread was a lot more elaborate.  Halloween on a Monday didn't leave a lot of time for a frightening feast but the fun and family time was still more than we could hope for.
     This year Jaxson was an old pro at the Halloween thing.  He was prepped and ready to say "trick or treat" after ringing doorbells and then "thank you" after receiving his candy.  He gave the first few trick or treaters who stopped by our house a lesson, prompting them to say thank you before he would even hand over the goods.  Ace was very excited for trick or treating this year.  His face lit up every time he trotted down a driveway after receiving more candy in his pumpkin.  After a stroll around the neighborhood, we came home to warm apple crisp.  A sweet ending to a great night.

Apple Crisp

Ingredients
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
4 cups apples, cored and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/4 cup white sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
1. In a large bowl, toss apples with white sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
2. In a separate large bowl, combine the brown sugar, oats, flour, nuts, and butter.  Mix until the mixture resembles course breadcrumbs.
3. Place half of the oat mixture in a lightly greased baking dish.  Spread the apples evenly over this layer.  Top the apples with the remaining oat mixture.
4. Bake 40-45 minutes or until brown and bubbly.

Serve topped with vanilla ice cream.