Crunchy-Top Peach Pie
Adapted from The Moosewood Cookbook
Preparation time: 40 minutes to prepare; 40 minutes to bake.
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Make this at the height of the peach season, with the finest, ripest peaches available. Or you can freeze some of those same fine, ripe peaches (peel and slice the first; spread on a tray and freeze, then transfer to a plastic bag, seal, and store in the freezer), and surprise everyone with this delightful pie in November or February.

If you have access to some ripe apricots, they will work equally well.

6 cups sliced ripe peaches
1/4 to 1/3 cup sugar (depending on the sweetness of the peaches)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
A dash of nutmeg
1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust

Topping
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup sliced almonds
3 tablespoons (packed) brown sugar
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted.
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Place the peaches in a medium-sized bowl and sprinkle with sugar and lemon juice.
  3. Combine the flour and spices, and sprinkle this into the peaches. Mix gently but thoroughly. Spread this filling into the unbaked crust.
  4. Combing toping ingredients in the same bowl (no need to clean it first) and mix well. Apply the topping evenly over the top, patting it firmly into place.
  5. Place the pie pan on a baking tray to catch possible drips. Bake in the lower part of the oven at 400ÁF for about 10 minutes, then turn the oven down to 375ÁF, and move the tray to the center of the oven. Bake for about 30 minutes longer, or until bubbly around the edges and golden on top. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature with ice cream or whipped cream, or just plain.