Mom's Apple Crisp

1 quart (about 1 pound) tart apples, pared, cored, and sliced
½ cup water
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
½ tsp. salt
11/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
½ cup butter or margarine
1 cup brown sugar
3 Tbsp flour
11/4 cups crushed corn or bran flakes cold cereal* or Oats

Place apples I a a 2-3 quart baking dish. Combine water, melted butter, salt, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Pour over apples. Cream ½ cup better and sugar; add flour and mix well. Crush cereal. Combine with creamed mixture. Press mixture over apples.
Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees, 30-35 min. Serve with table cream, if desired.

***Cranberry crisp variation: Substitute 2 or 3 cups raw cranberries for half the sliced apples. Mix the cranberries with the sliced apples and follow the same procedures as for apple crisp.