Autumn Recipe

Autumn is in the air. Breathe deep and you may smell crisp leaves. Walk down the street and hear them crackle under your feet. Autumn brings sweaters out of the crawl space, puts logs in the fireplace and...

...every kind of apple dessert in your tummy.

This year we ordered three bushels, instead of our regular two, from the western slopes of Colorado. This is the time of year we have apples coming out our ears. This is the time of year where we are seeking new apple recipes.

You see, my mom always finds easy, delicious crisps and cobblers. I, on the other hand, seem to gravitate toward complicated, time-consuming and sickening sweet recipes. Well, this year I am happy to announce that the one I found was rather simple and not too time absorbing.

It was still sickening sweet.

But it was a WINNER! We all loved it! Dad loved it which means that it was really good! We enjoyed it so much that I thought I would share the recipe with all of you:

Caramel Apple Bars
Crust:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup shortening
1 c packed brown sugar
1-3/4 cup flour
1 c old-fashioned or quick cooking oatmeal
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soad
1/2 c chopped nuts, optional

Filing:
4-1/2 c coarsely chopped peeled baking apples
3 tbsp flour
1 14oz package caramels
3 tbsp butter

In a mixing bowl, cream butter, shortening and brown sugar until fluffy. Add flour, oats, salt and baking soda; mix well. Stir in pecans if desired. Set aside 2 cups. Press remaining oat mixture into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 baking pan. For filling, toss apples with flour; spoon over crust. In a saucepan, melt the caramels and butter over low heat; drizzle over apples. Top with the reserved oat mixture. Bake at 400 for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool before cutting into bars. Yield 15-20 servings

For more apple flavor, add 2-3 cups more apples. For rich flavor, leave as recipe directs.

Happy Autumn and enjoy!