Berry Crumble

Ingredients:

For Crumble:

• 1/2 cup flour

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats

• 1/3 to 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, cold

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• grated nutmeg

For Filling:

• 4 cups mix berries

• 2 tbsp cornstarch

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

1. In a large bowl combine flour, oats, sugar, walnuts, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

2. Add vanilla and butter and incorporate into flour mixture with a fork or pastry blender.

3. In a separate bowl, place berries and add sugar and cornstarch. Stir gently to combine.

4. Grease an 8" square baking dish, add berry mixture and sprinkle crumble topping on top.

5. Place in a 350 °F oven and bake for about 35 minutes, or until top is golden and fruit is bubbly.

6. Serve with vanilla ice cream or as a stand alone dessert.

Serves: 6

Notes&Tips:

• When fruits are in season they are at their best in terms of flavor and though I love eating fruits in their natural state, I always buy too much and have to find other uses for them.

• For years, I have been making Berry Crumble and the recipe I enjoyed used a cake-like topping which I loved. But of course, I wanted to try a more traditional crumble topping and wanted to make it a bit healthy, hence the addition of oats and nuts. Do not use instant oats, the old fashioned oats works best. The bits of oats also toasted up nicely and gave a nice crunch in addition to the crunchy bits of walnuts.

• This crumble was not too sweet and serving it with ice cream or whipped cream would be perfect.

• I used a mix of strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. The strawberries I procured were big, so I quartered them. Leave small strawberries whole.

• If you'd like to serve this to company, use ramekins to bake individual crumbles. Just divide the fruit into 6 equal portions and top with some of the topping. Bake for about the same time.

• You can substitute your favorite nut if walnut is not your go to nut.