Apple Crumb Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup quick or old-fashioned (rolled) oats
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 large egg, beaten
4 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Crumb Topping
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup quick rolled oats
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine

Directions:

1.) Heat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease a 15- by 10- by 1-inch baking pan. Prepare Crumb Topping; set aside.

2.) In medium bowl, combine flour, oats, and sugar. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly.

4.) In medium bowl, combine oats, 1 cup flour, the brown sugar, baking powder, and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in beaten egg. Spread mixture evenly in pan.

7.) Toss apples with sugar, remaining 1/4 cup flour, and the nutmeg. Spread apples over oatmeal layer. Sprinle Crumb Topping in a diagonal pattern over apples. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until apples are tender. To yield 40 bars, divide the 15-inch-long side into 8 sections. Divide the perpendicular 10-inch-long side into 5 sections.

Other info:

Servings: 40 bars

Nutrition Information:
 protein: 1g; fat: 5g; carbohydrate: 15g; fiber: 1g; sodium: 71mg; cholesterol: 12mg; calories: 103.

Cinnamon Apple Chips

Ingredients:

2 cups unsweetened apple juice 
1 cinnamon stick 
2 Red Delicious apples

Directions:

1.) In large skillet or pot, combine apple juice and cinnamon stick; bring to a low boil while preparing apples.

2.) With sharp knife, slice off 1/2-inch from top and bottom of apples and discard (or eat!). Stand apples on either cut end and saw gently crosswise into very thin (1/8-inch) rings, rotating the apple as necessary to get even slices.

3.) Drop apple slices into boiling juice; cook 4 to 5 minutes or until slices appear translucent and lightly golden. Meanwhile, heat oven to 250 degrees F.

4.) With slotted spatula, remove apple slices from juice and pat dry. Arrange slices on cake-cooling racks, being sure none overlap. Place racks on middle shelf in oven; bake 30 to 40 minutes until apple slices are lightly browned and almost dry to touch. Let chips cool on racks completely before storing in airtight container.

Other info:

No need to core the apples since boiling in juice for several minutes softens the core and removes the seeds.

Nutrition Information:
Protein: .1g; Fat: 0g; Carbohydrate: 11g; Fiber: .2g; Sodium: 1mg; Cholesterol: 0mg; Calories: 42.

Servings: Makes approximately 40 chips

Apple Puffs

Ingredients:

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar 
1/2 cup water 
 2 Jonagold or Golden Delicious apples 
3/4 cup all-purpose flour 
1 teaspoon baking powder 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1/4 cup vegetable shortening 
6 tablespoons milk 
1 tablespoon butter 
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

1.) In small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup sugar and the water to boiling; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.

2.) Heat oven to 450 degrees F. Peel, core and halve apples; place in shallow baking dish. Pour sugar mixture over apples.

3.) In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture is crumbly. Stir in milk to make dough. Top each apple half with mound of dough, cover apple well. Make a hollow in center of each mound of dough. Mix butter, remaining tablespoon sugar and the cinnamon; spoon in hollows in dough. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until apples are tender.

Other Info:

Servings: Serves 4

Nutrition Information:
 Protein: 3g; Fat: 17g; Carbohydrate: 58g; Fiber: 2g; Sodium: 386mg; Cholesterol: 11mg; Calories: 388.