Posted on: Wednesday, September 1, 2004
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Apple crisp as cafeteria served it
By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor
Wanda Kohashi wrote in to contribute an apple crisp recipe in our search for old-time school goodies.
She wrote: "I was so thrilled that Jennifer Kanechika asked for the elementary-school apple crisp recipe. The apple crisp was my most favorite memory of elementary school lunches too!
"Back in the mid-1980s when I worked at HMSA, a co-worker gave me this recipe, which she got from her auntie, who was a public school cafeteria baker. Her auntie modified the recipe down to a manageable 9-by-13-inch batch and, I swear, it is what I remembered.
"Til this day, I have probably baked this very-easy recipe over 100 times. My younger daughter and two of her 4-H clubmates (at the time, 6 years old) prepared and displayed this recipe in the 2003 Oahu 4-H Food Show, to rave reviews!"
I tested this twice: My daughter took it to a company picnic and got besieged with requests for the recipe. And I made a cherry version that was a hit in the Advertiser office. (To use cherries, just buy two cans cherry pie filling; or drain 3 cans sweet cherries, mix with 2 teaspoons lemon juice and a half-cup sugar and use as apples, below.)
Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix the first three ingredients together using a pastry blender or two forks, until mixture becomes a crumbly texture.
Spread about two-thirds of the crumb mixture in a 9-by-13 pan. Spread the pie filling evenly over the crust. Don't press down and don't forget corners.
Add 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to the remaining crumb mixture in the large bowl, toss.
Sprinkle this crumb mixture over the top of the apples; again, don't press down.
Bake in the center of the oven at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, or until light golden brown.
Makes 24 servings.
• Per serving: 260 calories, 12 g total fat, 7 g saturated fat, 30 mg cholesterol, 140 mg sodium, 38 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 19 g sugar, 2.5 g protein. (Optional: Stir 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts into the crumb mixture.)
Apple Crisp
