Apple Pies and Kids Go together

You can almost Smell & Taste these Apples

The smell and taste of apple pie makes the home feel warmer when anyone comes in from the cold. The cooked apple pie smell swirls around the house and freshens the place. Apples existed 3,000 years ago in Kazakhstan, Central Asia. Later they were carried to Europe and brought to the American colonies. Johnny Appleseed actually did spread the seeds around the east coast. Here are a few easy Grandparent- tested apple pie recipes that children can help make in a short time.

English Apple Pie 

  You will need 4-5 tart baking apples like Rome, golden delicious, granny smith or Cortland varieties that hold their shape. Peel, quarter, remove the core, thin slice, and place in a deep dish pie pan. Children can use a table knife to help cut the apples into slices.  It won’t matter how the slices look. It won’t matter if the slices are slightly brown from oxidation, either. Place apples in a sprayed pie pan.

Try Some Grandparent-Tested Recipes

  Sprinkle a little less than one cup sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon cinnamon on top of the apples and have children mix them slightly with the apples.

  In a bowl place ½ cup melted butter, ½ flour, and ½ cup brown sugar.  Children can stir ingredients with a strong wooden spoon. Place this mix on top of the apples, spread them around, and press down.

  Bake for 45 minutes in a 350 degree preheated oven. Watch the last five minutes that the topping is the brownish color you and the children desire. Cool and serve with whipped cream, ice cream, or cheddar cheese while the aroma is fresh. 

Easy Apple Bites 

   The recipes from state apple councils have many good suggestions for cooking with children.

Try These and More

Here is one from the Michigan Apple Council.  You will need an eight -ounce package of refrigerated crescent dinner rolls and one large Braeburn or other baking apple. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper to avoid burning.

  

 In a small bowl combine 1/8 cup sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 ½ tablespoons of butter. Coat the apples slices with the mixture. Use the directions on the package to separate the dough into eight triangles on the baking sheet. Top each triangle with a slice of apple peeled or unpeeled.  Start at the wide side and wrap the dough around the apple. Brush the wrapped shapes with 1 ½ tablespoons melted butter and sprinkle a mixture of 1/8 cup sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Bake for 12 minutes and cool for 5-10 minutes. Top with whipped cream or ice cream.  They pack well in lunches the next day. 

For more recipes go to: http://www.michiganapples.com/Recipes/Desserts 

For more see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com or wnmufm.org/ Learning Through the Seasons live and pod casts Facebook, Pinterest, and You Tube.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos