Let’s get shakin!!!
As I see the kiddos returning to school, my social media is flooded with first day back to school pictures; I reminisce. I don’t have children but most of my friends do.
I remember back to when I was young when their parents were young. Back to school shopping, moms and dads exhausted from the summer heat and let’s be honest, THE KIDS.
I remember Labor Day weekend, I remember it was the last hoorah, it meant the long hot days of our southern summer were coming slowly to an end. I remember growing up we never started school before Labor Day.
Why do they now? Labor Day was created in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day symbolizes the end of summer, and is usually celebrated with parties, street parades and athletic events. Even though school has already started I have the perfect little treat to serve or take to this year’s festivities or to make and celebrate at home with the kiddos that are now out of your hair 7 hours a day.
Treat yourself, summers ending, you made it!
Summer Apple Bites
FOR THE CRUST
Cooking spray
1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. packed brown sugar
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
FOR THE FILLING
6 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
FOR THE TOPPING
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. chopped pecans
1 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted
Caramel, for serving
- Preheat oven to 350° and line a 9”-x-13” pan with parchment then grease with cooking spray. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt and mix until just combined.
- Press into prepared pan about 1/2” up sides. Bake until lightly golden, 20 minutes.
- In a large bowl, toss apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt together. Spread apples over crust.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pecans, brown sugar, and salt. Stir in melted butter until coarse clumps form.
- Sprinkle crumb topping over apples and bake until top is golden, and apples are soft, about 1 hour.
- Let cool at least 15 minutes then slice into squares and drizzle with caramel before serving.
Remember, “treat your kitchen, treat yourself”
Uniquely southern, surely the best Chef Hunter Lee