Apples
Two of the best things about Fall? Beautiful leaves in orange, yellow, and red; and crisp, juicy apples picked from the tree and made into applesauce, pie, and other treats. We make applesauce to last all year long and freeze apple pies so we can enjoy this all-American dessert on special occasions or whenever the oven is hot for a roast or other slow-cooking meal.

Apple Muffins

• 4 c chopped apples
  
• 1 c sugar
• 1 1/2 c raisins
• 1 1/2 c nuts
• 2 lg eggs (room temperature)
• 1/2 c vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 c flour
• 1 1/2 tsp soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 3/4 tsp salt

Mix together apples, sugar, raisins, nuts. Set aside. Mix eggs, slightly beaten, in vegetable oil and vanilla. Add to apple mixture. Mix flour, soda, cinnamon and salt. Add to the mixture. Do not over mix.

Bake at 325 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

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Apple Pie

Filling:

• About 15 apples, mixed varieties if possible

• 1 tbsp tapioca
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 2 tbsp butter, cut into two 1-tbsp pats and then cut diagonally into two triangles

Crust for two pies:

• 4 c flour
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 3/4 c butter-flavored shortening
• 1/2 c water
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tbsp vinegar

Peel apples, core and slice them into 1/4" slices - or use a mechanical apple peeler/slicer. Sprinkle tapioca, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg over apples and toss until well coated.

Combine dry pie crust ingredients with shortening until crumbly. Mix water, egg, and vinegar. Then combine all pie crust ingredients. Mix until a ball forms. Divide dough into half and then half again. Roll out one quarter of dough so that it will fit in a pie tin. Place rolled-out dough in pie tin. Mound apple filling in pie tin. Place four of the butter triangles on top of the filling. Cover with another layer of pie dough that has been rolled out, and scored with a knife so that steam can escape while baking.

At this point, we wrap the pies in Saran Press and Seal and put the wrapped pie in a 1 1/2 or 2 gallon freezer bag. When you're ready to bake a pie, place the frozen pie in a 375 degree oven for about an hour, or until the crust is golden brown and the apples are tender when poked with a fork.

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Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake

For the apples

• 3/4 c. lightly packed brown sugar
  
• 1/4 c. butter
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• Pinch kosher salt
• 2 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/2" thick

For the cake

• Cooking spray
• 1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. lightly packed brown sugar
• 2 large Nellie's Free Range Eggs
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 c. milk

Preheat oven to 350° and grease an 8” round cake pan with cooking spray. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt brown sugar, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Cook until slightly thickened, 2 minutes.

Pour caramel sauce into prepared pan and layer apples on top.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg.

In another large bowl, using a hand mixer, beat together butter and sugars until softened. Add eggs one at a time, then add vanilla. Add half the dry ingredients to wet ingredients, beating until just combined. Pour in milk and mix until fully incorporated. Add remaining dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

Pour batter over apples and bake until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, 1 hour. Let cool in pan 15 minutes then invert onto a cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing.

From Delish.com

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Danish Apple Bars

Crust:

• 2 1/2 c flour
• 1 c shortening
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 egg separated
• Milk to make 2/3 c (with egg yolk)

Filling:

• 2 c crushed corn flakes or more
• 4 c apples or more
• 1 c sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Frosting:

• 1 c powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp hot water
• 1 tsp vanilla

Sift flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in shortening. Beat egg yolk, add enough milk to make 2/3 c. Add to flour mixture. Divide dough in half. Roll out to fit 10 1/2 X 15” pan. Press dough up along the sides of the pan.

Sprinkle with corn flakes. Put apples over crumbs. Combine sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over apples.

Cover with remaining crust. Beat egg whites until stiff and brush on top.

Bake at 375 degrees 35-40 minutes. Drizzle frosting over crust while warm.