I've found that while women love a guy who can cook, breaking out the baking skills drives them right over the edge. And since my personal baking skills are limited - baking is more of an exact science than cooking is - I found a recipe simple enough that could be pulled off by even those of us with limited dessert-making skills.

The recipe is Chef Robert Irvine's Three-Apple Crumble from his show Dinner:Impossible, which is a favorite of mine. ("Okay Chef, today you have eight hours to cook a seven-course meal for 400 visiting dignitaries, using this hot plate and pair of salad tongs...") It uses different varieties of apples to give it depth of flavor (perfect for fall), and is served hot topped with vanilla ice cream. (What woman doesn't love a little a la mode?)

Since it comes from a show where Irvine has limited time and resources to cook with, the dessert is easy to make, requiring only about 20 minutes of easy prep before it goes in the oven for 30 minutes. Easy for you, delicious for her. Everyone's happy.

Three-Apple Crumble
Makes six servings

6 large apples (2 each of 3 different varieties: Granny Smith, Winesap, Rome Beauty, Stayman, Braeburn) peeled, cored and medium diced
6 tablespoons sugar, divided
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces
1 lemon, juiced
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 pint vanilla ice cream, for serving

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Place the apples and just 1/2 of the sugar (3 tablespoons) into a saucepan and cook over medium heat for approximately 10 minutes or until apples begin to soften. Drain them and set aside.

For the crumb topping:
Combine the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, flour, cinnamon and butter in a bowl. Blend with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.

Coat the apples with the lemon juice and spoon into a deep baking dish. Top with the crumble mix and sprinkle with the brown sugar, and bake until done, about 30 minutes. To minimize oven clean-up, you may want to place foil under the baking dish to catch any spills. The fruit will bubble and will be very hot, so exercise extra care in removing from the oven.

Serve scoops topped with vanilla ice cream.