APPLE NUT BARS

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs, well beaten
1/4 cup melted margarine
1/3 cup raisins
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup finely chopped apples
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
Place the batter in a greased 9" x 13" baking pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until the edges are golden. Remove from oven and cut into bars while still warm, not hot.
Note: Before serving, you might want to roll the bars in confectioner's sugar or spread with a cream cheese frosting.

BAKED APPLES

Baked apples are easy and delicious!

4 large unpeeled tart cooking apples (Rome, Granny Smith, or Gala)

2-4 tablespoons granulated or packed brown sugar

4 teaspoons butter or stick margarine

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/3 cup golden raisins (optional)

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Core apples to within 1/2 inch of bottom. Peel 1-inch strip of skin around the middle of each apple, or peel upper half of each to prevent splitting. Place apples in ungreased baking dish.

Place 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon butter and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon in center of each apple. Add raisins to each apple is you are using them. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon. Pour water into baking dish until 1/4 inch deep.

Bake 30-40 minutes or until apples are tender when pierced with fork. (Time will vary depending on size and variety of apple.) Spoon syrup in dish over apples several times during baking. My family loves a scoop of vanilla ice cream over baked apples while they are hot from the oven.

Serves 4.

SMUSHED APPLES WITH SWEET POTATOES

Elfindancer submitted this recipe to AllRecipes and it was a real hit with my family too.

Smushed Apples with Sweet Potatoes

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 Granny Smith apple - peeled, cored and sliced
1/8 cup milk

Place the sweet potato in a medium saucepan and fill with enough water to cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer for about 20 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.

Melt butter over low heat in a small saucepan. Mix in the sugar, cinnamon, and allspice. Add the apple slices, cover, and let simmer for 5 minutes, or until the apples are tender. Mix the apple mixture into the drained sweet potatoes along with the milk. Mix well using an electric mixer or just a fork until potatoes are mashed.

Note
As a variation, you can mix in cloves or nutmeg. This is also delicious topped with brown sugar and pecans.

PERFECT APPLE PIE

All American Apple Pie

6 to 8 tart apples, pared, cored, and thinly sliced (6 cups) Granny Smith work well.
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dash ground nutmeg

Pastry for 2-crust 9-inch pie
2 tablespoons butter

If apples lack tartness, sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Combine sugar, flour, spices, and dash salt; mix with apples. Line 9-inch pie plate with pastry. Fill with apple mixture; dot with butter. Adjust top crust, cutting slits for escape of steam; seal & crimp. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 400 for 50 minutes or until done.

ENJOY!!

INSPIRE YOURSELF TO BAKE A PIE!