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The beauty of colored leaves is just ahead of us. Actually, we have deciduous trees in our park and one of them is already covered with golden leaves; a preamble of what’s to come. What a beautiful gift God has given us.

Often people will say that many things happen in threes. Well, this is the third week of apple recipes so I guess this is it. I might sneak a couple more recipes here and there, using apples as the ingredients though!

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MACAROON APPLE CAKE
3 medium large tart apples (Grannie Smith, Greening or Haralson peeled, cored) cut into 1/4 inch wedges
2/3 c. light brown sugar, divided
2 T. lemon juice
1/4 c. butter or margarine, softened
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 t. grated lemon rind
1/2 c. flaked coconut
2 T. flour
1/4 c. chopped walnuts or pecans

Butter Sauce:
1/2 c. each sugar and brown sugar
3 T. flour
1 c. water
1 t. vanilla
6 T. (3/4 stick) butter

In a shallow, nine inch round baking dish, layer apple slices. Sprinkle with a combination of 1/3 c. brown sugar and lemon juice, set aside. In a medium bowl, cream butter and remaining brown sugar. Add next five ingredients and mix well. Spread over apples. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until top is delicately browned and apples are soft. Cut in wedges. Serve slightly warm, topped with sauce. Makes six servings.

For butter sauce, combine all ingredients; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened. Boil one minute. Cool until luke warm.

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I have used this recipe before, however, some people have requested it. Hmmmm... that tells me they liked the bars.

APPLE RAISIN BARS
1-3/4 c. chopped cooking apples (Honey Crisp, Regent, Cortland or Braeburn)
1 c. sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c. butter or margarine, melted
1-1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. vanilla
1/4 t. salt
Dash each, nutmeg and cinnamon
1/2 c. each, raisins and nuts

Vanilla Glaze:
1-1/2 c. powdered sugar
3 T. butter or margarine, softened
1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 T. milk

Mix apples and sugar in a large bowl; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in egg and butter. Stir in remaining ingredients except raisins and nuts; mix well. Stir in raisins and nuts. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Spread with vanilla glaze while warm or when cold, dust with powdered sugar. Makes 32 bars.

For the vanilla glaze, mix all ingredients until smooth and spreadable. Then spread over bars.

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When I saw this cookie recipe I wondered if the Moonshiners in days of old quit making their “applejack” brew and switched to making cookies.

APPLE JACK 
COOKIES
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. shortening
1 egg, slightly beaten
1-1/2 c. flour
1 t. nutmeg
1/2 t. each, salt and baking soda
1 medium apple, unpeeled and diced

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. Beat first three ingredients in a large bowl using an electric mixer, until light and fluffy. Stir in next four ingredients until well mixed. Stir in diced apple. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls, about two inches apart, onto cookie sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes or until light brown. Remove from oven and let sit five minutes. Remove cookies to wire rack to cool completely. Store loosely covered (like in a cookie jar)

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APPLE CUSTARD PIE
Pastry for one nine inch crust pie
4 medium cooking apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 t. lemon juice
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. each butter, melted and flour
3 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1/8 t. salt
1/8 t. nutmeg or mace
Whipped cream, if you wish to serve with

Line a nine inch pie pan with pastry, leave about 1/4 inch in over edge. With a dinner fork, poke lots of holes here and there on bottom and sides of pastry. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. In a large bowl, toss apples  with lemon juice. In a mixing bowl, beat next six ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Pour about one cup egg mixture over pie crust; top with apples. Top with remaining egg mixture. Tap pie plate on counter to remove pockets from filling. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until filling is set and apples are tender. Cool on wire rack. Serve with whipped cream. Best if served the same day. Store covered in the fridge.
Have you noticed in apple recipes, cinnamon is almost always included in the ingredients? Do you remember the golden oldie song, “Love and marriage, love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage, da-da-da...” Well, apples and cinnamon go together too. Enjoy these wonderful flavors!

Thought for the Day: Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking forward to spring.

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