Holidays are all about coming together with friends and family to celebrate each other. Old and new, close and distant, it’s a chance for all of us to step back from the daily hustle and bustle and focus on the people who matter most to us.
Food Network is giving us the chance to bring new friends to The Communal Table this year with their first Virtual Thanksgiving. So #pullupachair and get ready to feast your eyes on the array that’s about to be presented before you! The festivities kick off at 12 noon on Wednesday, November 16th. You can follow the discussion on Twitter with the hashtag #pullupachair.
My contribution to this pretend party is Amaretto Apple Crisp. It comes from a friend on a ski forum I used to frequent, who gave me this recipe a few years ago. A man with a heart of gold, he not only offered skiing and general life guidance, but culinary advice from time to time as well. I can’t ski this year–can’t do any of the normal outdoor activities I used to–thanks to the partial paralysis that I am (hopefully temporarily) limited by, but I can still eat this recipe and be reminded of the good times I’ve had with my former ski buddies, both in the flesh and on the web. They all have touched my life in countless ways.
- ⅓ cup Amaretto
- ½ vanilla bean, scraped
- 7 cups peeled and sliced Granny Smith apples (about 3lbs)
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- ¼ cup vanilla sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
- ¼ cup (4 Tablespoons) chilled unsalted butter, cut in small pieces
- ¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease an 8″x8″ baking dish and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine amaretto and vanilla bean scrapings. Set aside while you peel and slice your apples (using an apple-peeler-corer-slicer will save you a lot of time here, if you have access to one).
- Add the apples to the bowl and stir, covering the slices with the amaretto/vanilla bean mixture. Set aside.
- Combine flour and sugars in a medium mixing bowl.
- Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly.
- Add almonds, mixing well.
- Spoon apple mixture into the prepared 8″x8″ baking dish and sprinkle the crumb mixture over the top.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown.
- Serve warm or cold, with ice cream or without. It’s even great from the refrigerator as leftovers (and can be reheated in the microwave in 30 seconds or so).
Warp always said you should take a shot of amaretto once you have the dish in the oven. Don’t mind if I do!
Happy Virtual Thanksgiving! The only Thanksgiving where it’s your mind that fills up instead of your belly! At least your pants will still fit you after. 
Cocktails, Appetizers, Soups and Salads:
Eat Be Mary: She’s Mulling It Over Wine
Cookistry: Bread With Ancient Grains
Celebrity Chefs and Their Gardens: The American Hotel Peconic Clam Chowder
Picky Eater Blog: Butternut Squash Soup With Thyme and Parmesan
Good Food Good Friends: Mushroom Soup
Mains:
Examiner.com: Grilled Quail with a Warm Beet, Frisée, and Pistachio Salad
She Wears Many Hats: Mayonnaise Roasted Turkey
Sides:
Living Mostly Meatless: Vegan-Friendly Corn Casserole
Healthy Green Kitchen: Red Kuri Squash Pie
The Naptime Chef: Crispy Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes
Gluten-Free Blondie: Apple and Cranberry Studded Stuffing
Eat Drink Man Woman Dogs Cat: Blue Cheese and Rosemary Celebration Potatoes
Burnt Lumpia: Turkey, Sweet Potato and Cranberry Empanadas
Panfusine: Pan Fried Polenta Seasoned With Cumin, Ginger & Black Pepper
Homemade Cravings: Warm Brussels Sprouts and Cranberry Slaw
Bakeaholic Mama: Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Crispy Prosciutto
Show Food Chef: Beer-Braised Brussels Sprouts
T’s Tasty Bits: Sweet Empanadas with Pumpkin and Lupini Beans Filling
The Amused Bouche Blog: Braised Kale
The Little Kitchen: How to Make the Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Desserts:
The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower
Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp
Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta
That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin Blondies
Out of the Box Food: Out of the Box Food Maple Pumpkin Pie
Cake Baker 35: Orange Spiced Pumpkin Pie
Lisa Michele: Pumpkin, Pecan, Cheesecake Pie
Food For My Family: Buttermilk Custard Pear Pie
Simple Bites: Black-Bottom Maple Pumpkin Pie
A Cooks Nook: Swedish Apple Pie
Yakima Herald: Pretzel Jell-O Salad
How Does She: Three of Our Favorite Desserts
Dollhouse Bake Shoppe: Thanksgiving Candy Bar Name Plates
Sweet Fry: Pumpkin Latte
Tasty Trials: Spiced Apple Panna Cotta With Caramelized Apples and Caramel Sauce
An Uneducated Palate: Puff Pastry Apple Tart
Frugal Front Porch: Mini Cheaty Cheesecakes
Even more:
Kitchen Courses: Thanksgiving for Six People Under $60
A Curious Palate: The Communal Table
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13 comments
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culinaryneophyte
16 November, 2011 at 2:40 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I want some of this with vanilla ice cream. Or –mmmm– dulce de leche ice cream!
Love the design and style of your blog. The colors on these photos are great!
culinaryneophyte recently posted..#pullupachair with Food Network
The Poet Herself
16 November, 2011 at 3:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Dulce de leche ice cream? I don’t think I’ve ever had that, but now I want it! You’re right–sounds like a perfect pairing! And thank you!
JulieD
16 November, 2011 at 6:36 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I never would have thought to combine amaretto in an apple crisp! I love this…and I really wish this wasn’t a virtual potluck!
JulieD recently posted..How to Make the Perfect Mashed Potatoes
Lynn
16 November, 2011 at 8:57 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This crisp is making my mouth water…and I have so many CSA apples to use. It’s meant to be! Thank you.
The Poet Herself
20 November, 2011 at 7:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You have to make it then! Let me know what you think of it!
Terra
17 November, 2011 at 10:20 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Love love Apple crisp! My Grandma makes amazing Apple crisp, I can never do it as well as hers, but I try:-) I love your addition of amaretto, that sounds gorgeous! AND the crisp, crumbly top looks so beautiful! Hugs, Terra
The Poet Herself
20 November, 2011 at 7:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you! I have another apple crisp recipe I use, but this one does have a prettier topping.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
18 November, 2011 at 1:57 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This looks like a great addition to the fun virtual Thanksgiving. I hope you’re feeling better and back skiing soon.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes recently posted..Lemon Bar Cookie Cups
cindy
20 November, 2011 at 10:28 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That’s my kind of apple crisp!
Not Without Salt has a recipe for easy deluce de leche. So good.
The Poet Herself
20 November, 2011 at 7:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks, I’ll have to check that out!
The Food Hunter
21 November, 2011 at 3:48 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sounds delicious to me.
Laura Leigh Goyer
22 November, 2011 at 2:46 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Amaretto + almonds + apples = brilliant! I appreciate the link back and hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Laura Leigh Goyer recently posted..Weekly Photo Challenge: Breakfast
Kate | Food Babbles
19 September, 2012 at 4:21 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
YUM!! This apple crisp sounds awesome! I think I may need to add this to my real Thanksgiving table when the time come.
Kate | Food Babbles recently posted..Dulce de Leche Brownies
The Communal Table, Thanksgiving Dinner | How Does She...
16 November, 2011 at 12:37 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
The Communal Table: #PullUpaChair for A Virtual Thanksgiving « T's Tasty Bits, An Ecuadorian Cuisine Blog
16 November, 2011 at 12:59 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
the little kitchen » How to Make the Perfect Mashed Potatoes
16 November, 2011 at 1:17 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
Red Kuri Squash Pie | Healthy Green Kitchen
16 November, 2011 at 3:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin Blondies Out of the Box Food: Out of the Box Food [...]
Butternut Squash Soup with Thyme and Parmesan | The Picky Eater: A Healthy Food Blog
16 November, 2011 at 7:04 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
Nearly 40 Thanksgiving Recipes from Food Networks Communal Table | Mom, Parenting & Truckers Family Blog |
21 February, 2012 at 12:11 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] Cheesecake Recipe on your phone.Desserts:The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
Three Pies in One – Cheesecake Pumpkin Pecan Pie & The Giveaway Winner! « Parsley, Sage, Desserts and Line Drives
13 April, 2012 at 3:09 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
The Communal Table | An Uneducated Palate
16 April, 2012 at 2:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
The Communal Table |
6 May, 2012 at 5:18 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
#PullUpaChair with the Food Network for a Thanksgiving Feast - Good Food Good Friends | Good Food Good Friends
19 June, 2012 at 7:19 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
The Communal Table | An Uneducated Palate
22 September, 2012 at 11:24 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
Food Network Virtual Thanksgiving: Blue Cheese and Rosemary Celebration Potatoes « Eat Drink Man Woman Dogs Cat
9 November, 2012 at 6:58 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
Warm Brussels Sprouts and Cranberry Slaw | Homemade Cravings
16 November, 2012 at 9:03 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]
Farmgirl Gourmet Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta with Gingered Pecans & Bourbon Glaze - Farmgirl Gourmet
16 November, 2012 at 2:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] to Make the Perfect Mashed Potatoes Desserts:The Macaron Queen: Macaron TowerPoet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple CrispThat’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin BlondiesOut of the Box Food: Out of the Box Food [...]
Mayonnaise Roasted Turkey | She Wears Many Hats
17 November, 2012 at 9:18 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] to Make the Perfect Mashed Potatoes Desserts: The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin [...]