i know...you had to check out this post. cause if the word caramel + apple crisp didn't lure you to my little world...the "firm apple bottom" surely caught your eye! well i am sharing again a highly hit post of mine...that of a tasty beyond words sensational dish i whipped up a couple years back already!
and why apple bottom?? well because a trip to the apple orchard the other day not only yielded {3} pecks of honey-crisp (no such thing as too many) but a LAUGH OUT LOUD apple that i have to share! we all know that the human body is often compared to the shapes of fruit...well i would have to say this here "fruit" {below} brings new meaning to the term apple bottom!
and now that i took my blog from a G rating to PG-13...i will share the re-post of a recipe that you really must try.
★ gooey good caramel apple crisp ★
there are {3} parts to this crisp & i took the long route. my dad once said i would be a terrible short order cook...i am now seeing why he may think that!
{PART 1} - APPLE FILLING.
5 large granny smith apples - peeled, cored & thinly sliced.
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon instant vanilla pudding
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 liquid of your liking...apple cider, juice or just plain ol H2O.
ok, here's the important part. grab yourself a big bowl then toss in all the above. or place it all in a large ziploc bag. you want to marinate the apple filling while you prepare the other parts. yep...marinate it! see {below}
{PART 2} - HOMEMADE CARAMEL SAUCE. or if i lost you at "homemade" a container of caramel sundae topping will work just super too! but it's really quite easy to make!
over medium high heat...put 1 cup of white sugar in heavy bottom saucepan. as it begins to melt whisk in 1 stick of butter cut up into pats. as the mixture caramelizes remove from heat & SLOWLY add in 1 cup of whipping cream. (buy a PINT...use the rest for whipped topping). continue to whisk til smooth. move to back burner and let sit to thicken. or if you're like me... proceed to lick every utensil that touched tasty caramel concoction {below} until clean. who needs a dishwasher?
snap back to task at hand...
{PART 3} - CRUMBLE TOPPING.
two regular size boxes of vanilla instant pudding (TRUST ME)
1/2 cup flour.
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup quick cook/instant oats
1 cup of butter softened and cut up into pats
take another bowl and mix above said ingredients. if you have a pastry cutter...that works great here...or take two forks and "cut" the mix together. {shown below} it will be pretty dry.
oh yes! preheat your oven to 350 degrees. should have mentioned sooner...but i never do this first since my prep can be a bit lengthy!
assembly as follows
* marinated apple filling FIRST
* THEN a healthy drizzling of your caramel mixture (about half of prepared sauce).
* FINALLY the coating of "crumble". you may have to break up into nuggets.
i used an 9x9 stoneware baker...i think it would work in an 8x8 but might get a little high when cooking. a 9x13 could also be used but it won't be as thick & hearty. you decide! just be sure to grease your pan!
pop that honey into your preheated oven. middle rack. set timer for 45 minutes. pace around kitchen willing your stove to work faster so you can get you paws on the end result {below}. and let it cool a bit to "set-up". burning the roof of your mouth on scalding apples isn't much fun. just ask this impatient girl.
if you are feeling ambitious at this point - take your remaining whipping cream and pour into a tall sided bowl. have your way at it with a mixer and sprinkle in some sugar and vanilla extract. just play with it until you are happy with the flav. and don't forgot to top your masterpiece with the reserved caramel!
it didn't dawn on my to show a picture of the final plated product. who thinks of that when you dish up your first plate? certainly not i! so, here's what "round two" looked like {below}.
there you go! i hope that i have given your autumn sweet tooth some satisfaction with this recipe. it's a keeper. and @ the very least brought a little grin to your day with mother nature's sense of humor. she doesn't create something that funny without someone wanting to share!
smile often...laugh much!
between your photo of the "firm apple bottom", and the mention of cooking your caramel sauce in a "heavy bottom saucepan", I was beginning to blush! Not really... all I was doing was SALIVATING over this recipe! Gotta try it. Have a old friend flying in for a visit next week, and we love to cook and EAT. This recipe is PERFECT for that!
maggie
http://www.themagrag.com
Posted by: maggie raguse | October 04, 2011 at 10:04 AM
hey there miss maggie! i love your notes! they make me giggle!
i bet i will make some people blush with my silly apple! but i just had to show it...it's a hoot! will be hard to cut it up & snack away! :)
oh yes...that apple crisp...it's DELISH! you and your friend will have fun experimenting with this one! ENJOY! :)
Posted by: show & TELL . . . | October 04, 2011 at 01:56 PM
This is a great post - I love the title! :) I'm excited to try your recipe; I have many, many, apples in my freezer. Thanks for sharing!
-MM
Posted by: Marie Beckerleg | October 05, 2011 at 06:29 AM
Nom, nom, nom.....my favorite dessert!! My hubby made applesauce in the crockpot this past weekend...so good!
Posted by: Kelsey Nogosek | October 25, 2011 at 06:34 PM
I'm probably over thinking it, but by regular size pudding, do you mean the little or big box?
Posted by: Jennifer TheRaro | November 07, 2011 at 01:40 PM
not overthinking @ all miss jennifer! you want to pick yourself up the small box! thanks for checking and enjoy!
beth :)
Posted by: show & TELL . . . | November 08, 2011 at 09:43 AM
A caramel a day keeps the doctor away... or was it apples. XD
In any case, that looks like a delicious dish. Caramel is quite mouth-watering, and adding that to apples makes for a simple but effective team.
Posted by: Joseph Carr | December 15, 2011 at 01:49 PM