Apples and autumn

by Samantha Froelich

September has always felt like a turning point.

The long days of summer begin giving way to cooler mornings, golden fields, and the first hints of autumn. In North Dakota, you can feel the change in the air. Harvest season is underway, kids are back in school, and many of us start trading lemonade and grilled foods for warm drinks and comfort foods.

For me, one of the first signs of fall isn't something I see. It's something I smell.

Nothing says autumn quite like the scent of apples and cinnamon baking in the oven.

Every year, I look forward to gathering apples from my sister's apple tree. There's something special about using fruit picked just hours before it finds its way into a favorite family recipe. As the apples ripen and the leaves begin to change, making apple desserts becomes one of my favorite pastimes.

Growing up in agriculture, I've always appreciated the connection between the seasons and the food on our tables. Fall reminds us that food doesn't simply appear on grocery store shelves. It's the result of months of care, patience, and hard work by farmers and ranchers.

Apple trees are no exception. Long before those apples become pies, crisps, sauces, or cider, someone has spent countless hours caring for the trees through changing weather, pruning, watering, and protecting them from pests. Just like our crop farmers and ranchers, orchard growers work with nature to provide food for families across the country.

One reason I love cooking with apples this time of year is their versatility. Whether you're baking a pie, making homemade applesauce, or simply enjoying a crisp apple as an afternoon snack, they're a delicious reminder of the abundance that harvest season brings.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh apples is in a simple apple crisp. It's easy to make, fills the house with the smell of fall, and tastes even better when shared with family and friends.

Samantha's Apple Crisp

Ingredients

Apple Filling

• 6 cups peeled and sliced apples
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Crisp Topping

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter, softened

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
3. Spread the apple mixture evenly in a greased 8x8-inch baking dish.
4. In a separate bowl, mix oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and butter until crumbly.
5. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.
6. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
7. Serve warm. For an extra treat, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

As we transition into fall, I hope you'll take time to enjoy the flavors of the season and reflect on the people who make those flavors possible. Whether it's an apple from a backyard tree, produce from a local farmers' market, or crops harvested from fields across North Dakota, every meal has a story behind it.

This September, I'm grateful for cooler days, family traditions, and the simple pleasure of sharing homemade apple crisp around the table.

After all, that's what fall is really about.

From our table to yours, happy harvest season.

Samantha is the chair of the NDFB Promotion and Education Committee. She is pictured here (from left) with U.S. Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak and NDFB Promotion and Education District 8 Representative Ashley Skarsgard.

 

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