Age group(s) for this recipe:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

Estimated time:
approx. hour and a half

Number of servings:
6-12

Ingredients: (Hit your return key to start a new line)
6-8 c. fruit

(1/4 c. tapioca granules OR
2 Tbsp. cornstarch OR
1/4 c. flour) 'Thickener'

1 Tbsp. citrus juice (lemon or lime; orange OK in a pinch)

Topping:

1 c. flour

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. oatmeal

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 to 3/4 c. butter or margarine, softened or melted

Directions:
Apples, peaches or plums should be peeled and sliced thin. Berries should be clean; cherries should be washed, drained and pitted.

In a large casserole dish, combine fruit, citrus juice and Thickener of choice.

*If you are utilizing sour cherries (or something like diced rhubarb) you will also need to add up to a cup of sugar; sweeter fruits don't need this.

If you selected Tapioca Granules as your thickener, allow the mixture to sit for at least 15 minutes (this softens the granules).

In a bowl, combine the Topping ingredients. Spread/crumble evenly over the top of the fruit mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes.

Other suggestions and comments:
If you are using Frozen fruit, thaw it sufficiently to work with, and realize that this will increase the baking time by 15 minutes or more.

Apple contains natural 'pectin', which helps it to thicken. If you find yourself a li'l bit short of Tapioca, flour, or cornstarch, you can likely get away with using half as much for Apple.

Such recipes are meant to be re-invented and adapted. Grandma took pride in tossing together Dessert with whatever she had on hand! Try Mixtures of different fruits. Example: apple and cranberry (cranberry being sour, add a bit o' sugar to the Fruit Mixture).

These Crisp/Crumble type o' recipes have less fat and sugar than typical Pies, and also contain more fiber.

Adults/older children should do the peeling and cutting of fruit; younger family members can help measure and stir, pour the mixture into the pan, and mix/apply the Topping.

Vanilla Ice Cream helps 'stretch' the number of servings...and in fact, some people would consider the dessert Incomplete without that ;-) The other way to stretch the number o' servings is: using small serving dishes ;-)