Fruity desserts

Apple Cobbler

As a general rule, I'm not wild about fruit in desserts. Don't get me wrong - I really like most fruit. I eat apples, bananas, and fresh pineapple on a nearly daily basis. Can't go wrong with green grapes and strawberries, especially in the summer. Oranges are a favorite year round. But generally speaking, I like fruit as nature intended - wholesome and pure. Doing "stuff" to it usually doesn't go over with me.

However, there are notable exceptions which I'll expound on as I update this blog. The first notable exception is apple cobbler - one of my favorite cold-weather desserts. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream and that's comfort eating all the way. I love desserts that offer a temperature contrast - warm cobbler with cold ice cream. Note I said warm, not hot. As hard as it is sometimes, when you take something out of the oven, you have to let it cool. At least to the point that you don't burn your tongue on the first bite. It's especially important to wait at least 10 minutes (similar to those chocolate chip cookies!) when you're topping a dessert with ice cream. Otherwise your ice cream will melt into a puddle before you can even enjoy the first bite without having your tongue hang out to let the steam escape from that hot spoonful you can't swallow without blistering your esophagus.

Here's my favorite recipe for apple cobbler - straightforward, simple and easy:
4 apples, sliced
1/4 c sugar
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar
Vanilla ice cream

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F.
2. Toss apples, sugar and salt together.
3. Divide equally among 4 individual-sized oven proof bowls.
4. Combine butter and flour with fingertips until mixture is crumbly and has the texture of oatmeal.
5. Add brown sugar, allowing lumps to remain in mixture. Distribute evenly over apples.
6. Bake 30 minutes. Serve warm or cold with vanilla ice cream.