French Apple Pie

I was looking for my apple pie recipe and made the grave realization that I had not put it on the blog yet. This makes baking with my phone on the counter impossible. So I went and dug out the paper copy. I also forgot to buy apples at the store! So no picture yet. Anyway, this is a recipe I found on the back of a pastry box. I tried it on a whim, and not only is it fool-proof (I am a kitchen fool, you realize) but it is delicious and elicits many compliments. The peeling, coring, & slicing of the apples is the hard part- maybe get someone else to do that part.

1 ready to bake pie crust (rolled up in the refrigerated section of the grocery store)
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c cornstarch
1/2 tea nutmeg
1/4 tea cinnamon
1/4 tea salt
6 c cored, peeled, thinly sliced tart baking apples (I like granny smith, about 4-5 medium sized)
1 c flour
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c butter

Prepare the crust according to instructions in a 9 in pie dish. Preheat the oven to 350.

Mix sugar, starch, nutmeg, cinnamon, & salt. Stir in sliced apples. Spoon apple slices into pie place. To make the crumb topping, mix together flour and brown sugar. Blend in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle atop the pie. Bake pie on a sheet pan for 1 hr 30 mins.

Autumn Apple Cheesecake

How amazing does this sound?! I know you are running out to the store right now... have fun.

Crust: (or just use a store-bought graham crust)
1 c. graham cracker crumbs
3 tbl. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3 tbl. margarine, melted

Filling:
2 (8 oz.) pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. apples, diced
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Combine crumbs, sugar cinnamon and margarine; press onto bottom of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Combine cream cheese and sugar, mixing at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each egg. Blend in vanilla. Pour over crust. Toss apples with combined sugar & cinnamon. Spoon over cream cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Cool then chill overnight.

Caramel Apples

Ok, this is a revelation to me- caramel apples aren't hard to make! They seem so difficult and time consuming! But I made some today- and they aren't! Here's the formula:

craft sticks- like popsicle sticks
6 medium fuji apples
1 tbsp. and 2 tsp. milk
12 oz. caramels- they are soft and square (about 42 individuals)
decorations- like sprinkles, candy corn, etc.

Remove the stem from each washed apple. Spray a baking pan. Jam a craft stick into the top of the apple.
Unwrap the caramels (this is the hardest part) and place in a bowl. Add the milk and microwave for 1 minute. Stir and then return to microwave for another minute. Allow melted caramel to cool briefly.
Dip apples in melted caramel until coated evenly and allow excess to drip off. Decorate quickly and place on baking sheet. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes.