MUTSU APPLES

The Mutsu apple, also called Crispin, is a large, yellowish-green fruit with an orange blush and juicy, tender-crisp, coarse-grained flesh. This cross between Golden Delicious and the Japanese Indo has a complex, spicy-sweet flavor reminiscent of anise and is great for eating or baking.

Delicious to eat "out-of-hand" - or as I have been serving them for dessert - cut into quarters, core removed and served with a piece of 70% cacao chocolate.  A perfect dessert in the height of apple season.

Baking with Mutsu/Crispin apples is also a good way to enjoy their  taste.  Cut up in to cubes, layer in a buttered 8-inch square pyrex dish.  Make the crisp topping using about 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, 1 cup of a crunchy cereal, 1 tablespoon flour, sprinkle of cinnamon and a few tablespoons of brown sugar.  Crumble the topping together to break up the butter and combine the ingredients.  Pat the mixture down on top of the apples.  Bake in a 375°F oven for about 45 minutes.  Check to see that topping is not getting too brown after 30 minutes of baking.

Serve apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.