Pear Crisp

Ingredients
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ cup vegetable oil or melted unsalted butter
¼ cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup chopped nuts

2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup or concentrated fruit sweetener
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice
5 cups sliced pears

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.  Mix oats, flour and salt together in a bowl.  Add oil and sweetener, mix well.  Stir in nuts and set aside.  In a small bowl, combine water, syrup, spices, vanilla extract and lemon juice, set aside.  Slice fruit and place in a lightly oiled pie pan or an 8 X 8 inch baking dish.  Pour the liquid mixture over the fruit and toss gently.  Spoon the oat-nut mixture evenly on top of the fruit.  Cover and bake for 45 minutes.  Uncover and bake 15 minutes more to crisp the topping.

Serves:  6-8 servings

Recipe by:  Cynthia Lair