Haunted Hayride Apples

1/4 cup seedless raisins
1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
dash nutmeg (optional)
4 firm, tart apples (such as Granny Smith)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. In a small bowl, mix the raisins, walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg together.

3. Wash and core the apples using an apple corer or a small knife.

4. In a baking dish, arrange the apples with the tops up. Fill each apple with one-fourth of the raisin mixture.

5. Pour water into the baking dish to the depth of 1/2″.

6. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Baste the apples once or twice with the cooking liquid. The apples are done when they still hold their shape and yield to a knife when pierced. Serve the apples when they are cooled slightly.

7. To warm in the microwave: Place the apple in a microwave-safe dish and microwave on low for 1 minute at a time, until warm. Caution: Parts of the apple can get very hot!

Serving Size: 1 apple

8 large apples, such as Gala or Granny Smith
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons brown sugar
4 tablespoons softened butter
1 1/2 cups water or apple cider for cooking the apples
fresh mint, for garnish

Caramel Sauce
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup hot water

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Remove the core from the apples with an apple corer or hollow out the core with a vegetable peeler.

3. Mix the raisins, chopped walnuts, sugar and butter together. Stuff as much of the raisin-nut mixture as you can into the hollowed-out core of each apple.

4. Put the apples into a baking pan, add enough water or cider to cover the bottom of the pan, about 1/4 of an inch high. Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes, or unitl the apples can be easily pierced with a knife and are cooked through.

For the caramel sauce:

5. Heat the sugar in a small saute pan on medium-low heat until it starts to melt and turns a dark amber color, about 5 to 7 minutes.

6. Add the water carefully; it can spatter because the sugar is so hot. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the caramel disolves and the mixture is syrupy. Remove the sauce from the heat. It will thicken more as it cools.

7. Pour some of the caramel sauce onto the center of each plare. Place a baked apple in the middle and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Serving Size: 1 apple with sauce

1 (18.25 ounce) box spice cake mix
1 (21 ounce) can apple pie filling
3 eggs
3/4 cup regular or fat-free sour cream
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Glaze:
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 teaspoons whole or fat free milk

Set aside 1 tablespoon cake mix. Set aside 1-1/2 cups pie filling.

In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, sour cream, water, oil, extract and
remaining cake mix and pie filling. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
Pour half of the batter into a 10-inch fluted tubepan coated with
nonstick cooking spray.

Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and reserved cake mix; sprinkle over
batter. Spoon reserved pie filling over batter to within 3/4 inch of
edges; top with remaining batter.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-50 minutes.

A new, delicious twist on the traditional caramel apple! These are ideal for fall when you have an overabundance of apples, but don’t discount them for other holidays and occassions! Simply change the color of the sprinkles or other decorations to fit the season or event.

Editor’s note: For children with allergies to peanuts, replace the peanut butter chips with butterscotch or mint for a different twist!

You will need:
12 wooden ice cream sticks
12 medium apples, stems removed
1 package (10 ounces) peanut butter chips
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar
2/3 cup cocoa

Optional for decorating apples:
chopped peanut butter chips
chopped or mini chocolate chips
chopped vanilla chips
flaked coconut
colored spinkles
chopped nuts

What you do:
Insert wooden stick into each washed and dried apple. Cover a baking sheet or tray with waxed paper.

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, stir together peanut butter chips and oil. Microwave on high 1-1/2 minutes or until chips are softened. Stir until melted.

Stir together confectioners’ sugar and cocoa; gradually add to melted chip mixture, stirring until smooth. Microwave on high 1 minute or until very warm.

Dip apples into mixture, twirling to remove excess coating. (If coating becomes too thick, return to microwave for a few seconds). Roll coated apple in chopped chips or coconut if desired, or sprinkle toppings onto apples. Allow to cool on prepared baking sheet or tray.

Yield: one dozen apples.

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6 cups chopped peeled tart apples

BUTTERSCOTCH SAUCE:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs,one at a time,

beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, cinnamon,nutmeg,salt and baking

soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well (batter will be stiff). Stir in

apples until well combined. Spread into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish.

Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until top is lightly browned and springs back when

lightly touched. Cool for 30 minutes before serving. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan,

combine brown sugar and butter. Cook over medium heat until butter is melted. Gradually

add cream. Bring to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the

heat. Serve with cake. (12-14 servings)

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups peeled, chopped apples
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup Egg Beaters (egg substitute)
1 cup fresh cranberries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon and soda. Set aside. Mix apples,
sugar and oil in medium bowl. Stir in Egg Beaters. Add flour mixture,
just until moistened. Batter will be thick. Stir in cranberries and
walnuts. Spread into a greased 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 2 1/2 loaf pan. Bake at
350° for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

3 Granny Smith apples (about 2 pounds), peeled, cored, chopped
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup apple juice
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup soft caramels (about 8 pieces), unwrapped
2 boxes (11 ounces each) piecrust mix
1/2 cup cold water
1 egg, lightly beaten

Combine apples, brown sugar, butter, apple juice, cream, pie spice,
cornstarch and caramels in a skillet. Bring to boiling over high heat,
stirring frequently, 8 to 10 mins.Lower heat to medium; cook for another
2 to 3 mins. Remove from heat.Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Stir together
2 boxes piecrust mix and cold water in medium-size bowl until dough
comes together in ball. Divide in half. Transfer half of dough to
floured work surface. Roll out to 1/8- to 1/4-inch thickness. Using
4-inch round cutter or lid of 13-ounce coffee can, cut out 6 circles.
Then with 2-3/4-inch cutter, cut 6 smaller circles, rerolling scraps as
needed. Repeat with second half of dough, cutting out six 4-inch circles
and six 2-3/4-inch circles. Reserve any leftover dough for other uses,
refrigerating for up to 3 days, or freezing up to 1 month.Press a 4-inch
circle of dough into a 2-3/4 x 2-inch cup of a muffin tin, pressing
dough up sides and overlapping rim slightly. Repeat with remaining large
circles and cups, filling a total of 12 cups.

Fill each pastry-lined cup with a scant 1/4 cup filling. Brush edges of
smaller circles with egg. Top pie bottoms with smaller circles; pinch
pastry edges together to seal. Decoratively pierce tops (Or cut smaller
circles into strips for a lattice top.) Bake in 425 degree F oven for 15
mins or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly. Remove pies to wire
rack to cool. Serve with vanilla ice cream if desired. Makes 12 pie cups.

1 cup bouillon or water
1 teaspoon mild curry powder
1 teaspoon apple pie spice or dessert spice blend
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons brown sugar, or sweetener to taste (optional)
4 tart apples, cored and cut in bite-size pieces
2 pears, cored and cut in bite-size pieces
2 cups fresh or frozen peaches, cut in bite size pieces
1 cup fresh or canned pineapple, bite-size
1/2 cup dried cherries, cranberries or raisins
cooked barley or other whole grains (optional)

Combine the bouillon, curry powder, dessert blend, ginger and brown sugar in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer about 5 minutes to blend the flavors. Add the fruits, cover and simmer until the fruits are soft and a little syrupy, about 20 minutes. Serve over whole grains or mix into the grains if desired.

6-8 servings

Pastry for 9 inch double crust pie
3/4 c. sugar
2 tbsp. flour
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
6 c. peeled, sliced tart apples
1/2 c. seedless raisins
2 tbsp. orange juice
3 tbsp. butter

Powdered Sugar Frosting
Divide pastry into 2 parts; roll one part into a circle and line 9 inch
piepan. Combine sugar, flour, salt, and cinnamon. Mix with apples and
raisins;
place in piepan. Sprinkle with orange juice and dot with butter. Cover with
crust, seal edges, and bake at 400 degrees F. for 15 minutes. Reduce
heat to 350
degrees F. and bake 40 minutes longer. Remove pie from oven and spread
Powdered Sugar Frosting over hot pie. Yield: 6 servings.

POWDERED SUGAR FROSTING:
1 c. powdered sugar
3 tbsp. strained orange juice
1 tsp. grated orange rind
Combine sugar, juice, and rind; spread over hot pie.

1 gallon apple cider
12 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 lemon – sliced
1 Tablespoon honey

Mix all ingredients together in pan. Simmer for 10 minutes to 1 hour. Strain
Serve warm.