Apple, Pear and Blueberry Crumble

"ARE YOU READY TO (C)RUMBLE???!!!"

I'm pretty sure that's the start of a football game. Or a wrestling match. Perhaps basketball. If anyone knows, please send me a note.

My inspiration for this dessert came from my refrigerator. I had a box of beautiful blueberries that had been virtually untouched, and were looking, well, a bit, tired. I also spotted a couple of pears that I bought for salads, but never made, and two Fuji apples, bought for daughter K, who has been gone for two weeks. It was time to use them before they went to the garbage heap.

Here's the fruit you need: 2 apples (tart, like Fuji or Granny Smith), 2 pears, any kind, and soft, 2 cups blueberries, (if you don't have fresh, sub frozen), 1 lemon, and 1 orange.

Start by peeling the apples and pears. I used the "Miracle peeler" and peeled the apples in 25 seconds, flat. Yes. I timed myself. It's kind of like a competition with myself to see how fast I can do this. Wierd.

Then, cut the apples. I used an apple corer thing.

One press of the hands, and...Presto! Sliced apples, core out.

You're not done yet. Now, take these apple slices and cut them into bite size chunks. Throw them in a big bowl. Peel and slice the pears into bite size pieces, as well. Throw in the washed blueberries.

Get out your microplane and zest some lemon and orange, about

 1/2 tsp each. When you reach the white part, STOP! That's bitter, and does not belong in our dessert.

We don't want our fruit to turn brown, and we want to give our crumble some wonderful flavors. So, we'll add the juice of 1/2 lemon.

And the juice of 1/4 orange. I just love this juicer! All juice. No seeds.

Let's give this fruit some savory goodness.

Add about 1/2 tsp cinnamon, about 1/2 palmful.

And some freshly grated nutmeg, (about 1/4-1/2 tsp). You can use pre-grated nutmeg. Just be sure that it's fresh. If it's old, you won't be able to taste this wonderfully flavored spice.

This needs some sweetness, so we'll add about 1/2 cup of white sugar.

And, we need to keep the syrup from being too thin, so we'll add about 2 Tbls flour.

Mix this all up gently with a soft spatula.

Let's make the topping.

First, butter the dish. I used the butter wrapper from the butter in the topping.

I'm frugal that way.

In a separate bowl, combine 3/4 cup flour and 1/2 cup brown sugar.

Add in 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal.

Now, cut up one stick of cold butter.

Mix it into the oatmeal mixture with a pastry wire thingy, or using the paddle attachment of the food processor. I used the wire thingy, as it took less time to clean. I really have no idea what the proper name of the wire thingy is.

Add in 3/4 cup chopped pecans.

Mix it up until the butter is in little balls, and almost mixed with the oatmeal mixture.

Every time I read "mix it until it looks like peas", I think, "It doesn't look at all like peas!" Perhaps that is why I don't bake.

Now, you are ready to bake. Put the fruit into an oblong baking pan, about 10"X12".

Top it with the butter, oatmeal mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees (F) about 45-60 minutes, until brown and bubbly.

Serve with good vanilla ice cream on top, or on the side. YUMMY!

I know this is a terrible pic. I'm sorry. But, I didn't want to re-plate this deliciousness, so I could get a better photo. I just dug right in.

Bon Appetit'!

Ingredients:

2 tart apples, peeled, cored, and cut into bite size chunks

2 soft pears, peeled, cored, and cut into bite size chunks

2 cups washed blueberries

1/2 tsp EACH orange and lemon zest

juice of 1/2 lemon

juice of 1/4 orange

1/2 cup white sugar

2 TBLS flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4-1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Stir gently to combine.

Topping:

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp Kosher salt

3/4 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup Old Fashioned oatmeal

1 stick cold butter, sliced into 8 equal pieces

Method:

1. Combine all fruit ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Combine topping ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Place fruit into an oblong baking dish, about 10"X12". Or, use a deep pie dish.  Or, a regular size casserole dish. It doesn't matter. Use what you have that will accomodate the fruit and topping.
4. Top with the butter / oatmeal mixture.
5. Bake @ 350 degrees (F) for 45 minutes - 1 hour, until brown and bubbly.
6. Serve warm with good Vanilla ice cream.