Caramel Apple Bars

 

Caramel Apple Bars

(Or Optional Date Bars)

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup shortening

1 3/4 cups flour

1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

4 1/2 cups coarsely chopped, peeled tart apples (3 medium)

3 Tablespoons flour

14 oz bag caramels

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix brown sufar, butter and shortening in a large bowl. Stir in 1 3/4 cups flour, the oats, salt and baking soda. Reserve 2 cups oats mixture. Press remaining oats mixture in an ungreased 9x13 pan. Toss apples and 3 Tablespoons flour together and spread over oats mixture in the pan. Heat caramels over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Pour evenly over apples. Sprinkle reserved oats mixture over and press lightly. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Optional: Make Date Bars! Heat 1 lb (3 cups) cut-up dates, 1 1/2 cups water and 1/4 cup sugar over low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool. Substitute date mixture for the apples, 3 Tablespoons flour and caramels.

Canned Pie Filling

My daughter, Alison McMurry, makes this every year. Just like her Mother and her Grandmother and her Great-Grandmother before her. Makes great apple pie later in the winter or next summer!

Apple Pie Filling

 Fill 7 quart jars with sliced apples

Sauce:

4 ½ cups sugar

1 cup cornstarch

2 tsp. cinnamon

10 cups cold water

½ tsp. salt

3 Tbls. lemon juice

Blend together dry ingredients.  Add water.  Cook and stir until thick, clear and bubbly. Add lemon juice. Pour over apples in jar. Seal jars. Process in water bath for 20 minutes.

Makes 7 quarts.

Recipe shared by Robin.

Crockpot Apple Butter

It's apple time! Time to make Apple Butter! Yum!

Crockpot Apple Butter

12 cups chopped, unpeeled apples

¾ cup apple cider

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. ground cloves

Combine apples and cider in 3 qt. crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, until apples are soft. Puree apples and return to pot. Add sugar and spices. Cover and cook on low for 1-2 hours. To thicken, uncover and cook on high to desired thickness. Pour into jars. Process for 10 minutes in boiling water bath.

Fresh apple butter will  keep several weeks in the refrigerator or it may be frozen. 

Recipe shared by Robin.

Applesauce

This is a recipe that I used to make when my children were young and still at home.

Applesauce

20 large apples

4 cups water

2 ½ cups sugar

Wash apples, core and quarter them. Place in a large pot. Add water and sugar. Cook on medium until soft. Pack while hot into jars. Process in a hot water bath for 25 minutes.

Recipe shared by Robin.

Canned Apples

This is an old family recipe. It seems like something that would be made by Grandma.

Canned Apples

4 cups apples, peeled and sliced

½ cup sugar

Mix together in a shallow pan. Let sit overnight. Put in quart jars. Process in a cold water bath for 5 minutes. Leave in canner to cool. Use in cobblers, crisps, etc.

Recipe shared by Robin.