Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Caramel Apple Wedges

It's taken me 10 days to crank out all the recipes for my Fall Kick Off Dinner, ending here with Caramel Apple Wedges. The truth is, the temperatures around here in the Southwest are still over 90 degrees, so I could kick off Fall again in a month or two and still be in good shape, and maybe even have a crunchy yellow leaf or two to join in the celebration. In the meantime, dog gone it, if the calendar says its Fall, then I'm eating for Fall, even if Mother Nature is still wearing her string bikini.
Speaking of clothes, I need your help too. I'm looking for a straight, knee length-ish denim skirt. Something I could wear with high boots and a sweater to a School Board meeting, or with flip flops and a hoodie to the grocery store. Something I could cram in a suitcase and roam the streets of Rome in. Really truly-I'm going in a month from today. I know you are all cute and fashionable, so help me out before I turn into a groovy housefrau.
And still speaking of clothes, did I mention that my daughter will only wear dresses? Even on a field trip to the Farm? I buy her one pair of jeans each year, hopeful that she'll wear them on a hike, or to dig in a sandbox, or rake some leaves, or to kick a ball around in...and then the next year I give them away to a cousin with the pricetag still on them. And to think when I was her age, I wore Toughskins and had a Dorothy Hammill haircut. You really don't want to see the pictures. I'll show you her instead. And my little cowboy, too.
Where is all this chatter going? Let's get to the recipe for today: Caramel Apple Wedges. I love homemade caramel, and I love crispy apples, but when I see a big giant decorated caramel apple, it seems like an awful big commitment. All I really want is a brief love affair, a bite or two and then I'll be on my way. So I make caramel apple wedges instead. You've got to be ready to eat them quickly, since they don't store well but, golly gee whitaker, they are cute and with homemade caramel and a little sprinkle of Reese's pieces or peanuts, they're just the bite I'm looking for. Happy First Day of October.
Money Saving Tips: Making your own caramel is inexpensive. Use condensed milk for a slightly sweeter and cheaper version. Again, almost any apple is good here. I used Golden Delicious.
Caramel Apple Wedges:
Estimated Cost: $2.00 for 16 wedges
2 apples, cored, with skin, cut into 8 wedges each,
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon corn starch
For Caramel:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk or cream
pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla
Pat apples dry with paper towels. Sift a tiny smidgen of cornstarch over cut side of apples to help absorb moisture. You don't want to taste it, so don't put too much. Set aside briefly. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and coat with no stick cooking spray.
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add remaining ingredients, except vanilla and apples. Stir until mixture boils. Reduce heat, cover with lid and cook for about five minutes, watching closely. When mixture has come together and is caramel colored, remove from heat. Spoon sa bit of caramel over each wedge. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, Reese's pieces, or whatever you desire, and place on prepared waxed paper. Eat them gooey, or store in the fridge for about 10 minutes and eat immediately after.
Coming Tomorrow:
Caramelized Onion, Brie, and Pear Crostini

75 comments:

  1. Forget the apple, just hand me over the caramel, the nuts and the Reeses.

    My mom gave me a Dorthy Hammill too. shudder...

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  2. I love caramel apples!

    You mention a denim skirt, I've been looking at this one (http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product/itempage.aspx?item=D142888&PFID=17&BID=S2008275095322C3FE47A4EE85463D90F09A&h=M&sk=M)
    for a long time. It is actually knit but looks like denim. Its from jjill if my link doesn't work. Its a little pricey but seems like a piece that would be a good staple and around for years to come!

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  3. Ooh, there is another one in the sale section at jjill that is cute and only $30, but it only will work if you are a regular size 2, 6, or 12, or could wear a petite! OK, I'm not looking for you anymore, my I want list keeps getting longer!

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  4. Aww, your kids look so sweet all ready for fall! I was just like your daughter, I would never ever wear pants, until I was in 2nd or 3rd grade. I thought pants were exclusively for boys. Ha! The caramel apple wedges look perfect! Yum!

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  5. OMG - those look delicious. I am going to try those. I love caramel apples.
    Thanks for the brownie tip. I had not thought of making brownies for my party. Maybe with chocolate sauce to pour too. You were a huge help.

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  6. The caramel apple wedges look wonderful and your children are absolutely precious! I couldn't do without a demim skirt or two. Makes you feel comfortable and girlie too!

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  7. Your kids are adorable!

    I've never worn pants either, even to the farm, so I cheer for your daughter! About 6 years ago, I went to the farm in a denim skirt, bulky knit sweater, boots and jacket. Some old bitty was making disparaging comments about my appearance, and my son, who worked there, walked right up to her, and said, "Frankly, lady, that's my mother and there's not a guy on this farm who doesn't know where she is and think she's hot. So think whose mother you're insulting before you open your big mouth!" I was so proud when a co-worker of my son's told me about this.

    Why don't you just make a simple a-line or 6-gore denim skirt? A-line has 3 seams & a zipper; you could whip it out in 2 hours! It's the best go-anywhere thing you could have!

    Are you really going to Rome? Cool!

    Your apples look great, and I'm glad to see the fall colored candy on top.

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  8. I love your caramel Apple Wedges! I love caramel apples, but I agree that they are super hard to eat. I will definitely make these up for my family. Thanks for the homemade caramel recipe. As for a cute straight skirt, I would check out Eddie Bauer. They always have cute denim skirts. I got a cute one years ago from Target that I just love. I can dress it up or dress it down. Goodluck!

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  9. We are going to make these..my daughter saw this and that sealed the deal..
    Off to buy some more apples!

    yummy!

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  10. I am not a fashionista; in fact, today I am wearing a camel turtleneck, gray slacks, and camel shoes. I have to go ask my fashionable friend down the hall if this is a faux pas (should I choose shoes to match my slacks rather than my shirt? I don't know.) With that disclaimer, I saw a cute denim pencil skirt at J.Crew: http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/skirts/pencil/PRDOVR~94850/94850.jsp
    It's slighly above-knee length on the 6 foot tall model, but probably knee length on the rest of us.

    These apple wedges look adorable -- my kids will love them! Speaking of adorable, how precious are those children of yours?? I think dresses totally work at the farm!

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. You're so cute. These are adorable. Caramel apples are too hard to eat anyways!

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  13. Oh Prudy, my kids would love this! A perfect little dessert.

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  14. I actually like hearing your thoughts. Your daughter is so adorable in her dresses. Funny, that you were the opposite. I love apples with caramel and this looks like a simple enough recipe to do it at home. Thanks for the great tips and I am getting jealous about all this Europe talk!

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  15. So what do you want a denium skirt for really?? School Board meeting?, the grocery store? or to and roam the streets of Rome??

    That cracks me up about Sailor only wearing dresses. That's Shelby, she even wears them to the beach and to ride horses and she rides her bike in a dress. She has a total melt down when we try to get her to wear jeans. I thought she might out grow that but if Sailor is 7 then maybe not. Oh, well... Your little man is very handsome and of course he has a beautiful older sister.

    Apple wedges is such a better idea for little ones than handing them a whole apple that is to big to get in their mouths. And who doesn't love caramel?

    Good luck on the skirt thing!

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  16. Ooh, yes. Caramel anything please!
    Prudy, your daughter is a real sweetie - I love girls in dresses :)

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  17. I love the wedge idea! I could never eat caramel apples either because I'd always knock it off it's stick and it'd roll in the dirt. Then I would cry and pout. Or I'd get it all stuck up in my braces and--it really wasn't cute.

    I only wore dresses until fifth grade, when I consented to wear leggings. I didn't wear jeans until the middle of junior high. Now, I wear dresses and skirts 3/4 of the year. Tell Sailor I understand. We have pictures of me on a horse in denim dresses and pink cowboy boots.

    I'll look for a skirt! I need one too!

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  18. YUMMY! What else could be said about these?!? :)

    Your kids are so adorable!

    I would love to pack myself into your suitcase and go with you to Rome. What an awesome trip to be taking!

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  19. Gigi-I literally want that jean skirt for all three things-Board Meeting, Europe, and trips to the grocery store!

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  20. How fabulous are those?? You are so good! ;)

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  21. Those look great. I found an awesome jean skirt at TJ Maxx last week. It is straight at the top and slightly flared at the bottom. Dress it up or dress it down! I'm like your daughter I love to where dresses!

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  22. Your kids are the cutest! I'll take a bowl of homemade caramel anytime.

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  23. Those apples look great! I was recently on the Talbots website and they have a couple denim pencil skirts. I have an old one from JCrew but I don't think they carry it anymore. Good luck!

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  24. What a fun treat!
    How funny your daughter loves dresses so much! Your kids are adorable!
    About the skirt...I always have a hard time finding skirts/dresses, so I am not much help! Good luck though!

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  25. You are so cute Prudy, I love it when you chat! I feel like we are neighbors. Your daughter looks so sweet in her dress at the farm...

    This is a great snack that my kiddies will love! I'll keep my eye out on a skirt for ya!

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  26. I'm so with you about the whole apple thing! Those wedges are just perfect and the caramel oh the caramel! Forget about the apples, I would eat that caramel alone! I think I have a skirt just like the one you want! Wanna borrow it? ;)

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  27. This is one good looking snack...it gets my vote! Yum!

    -DTW
    www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com

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  28. I went through a stage when I was younger that I would only wear skirts, dresses, or pants without pockets on the butt. Yeah - now I'll still wear skirts and dresses, but all of my pants HAVE to have pockets! I bought my favorite denim skirt at Gap, but it's probably been 3 or 4 years ago. But I still wear it weekly, or at least I did until I got pregnant and too big to wear it!

    I love the idea of the apple wedges - although I can eat a whole caramel apple, the wedges would be much easier to eat!

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  29. What a good idea- I am so with you on the whole caramel apple being a big commitment!! I can never even get my mouth around it to take a first bite without making a huge mess! Oh and I too went through a dress-only stage for about 2-3 years when I was little and then I totally grew out of it and only wore jeans for awhile!!

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  30. I always feel like caramel apples are too big and overwhelming for small kids... this is such a great alternative!
    My daughter is the exact same way with the dresses, by the way!

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  31. It's that time of year where we are all thinking caramel and apples!

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  32. My Mum always had the opposite trouble with me!! I hated wearing dresses but she insisted that I had to wear one to church on Sundays. These look like a great treat that I could make for Guy Fawkes Night over here!

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  33. Yum-oh. I haven't looked through the comments to see if someone else mentioned it, but I have seen some darling knee length skirts at Down East. Whenever I go they are out of my size though so I don't know how they fit. But they look cute! Good luck

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  34. How cute! My friends have been requesting caramel apples lately. I should go this route.

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  35. what a great idea to serve them this way. so much easier to eat than a caramel apple on a stick. and we just got a big bushel of apples at apple hill last weekend. i'm off to make some caramel and buy some reese's.

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  36. oh, yes. as for the skirt, check out bodenusa.com. they have a darling one that hits just above the knee on the model and looks adorable with tights (somehow that sounds like rome in november). they also have an oh-so-yummy knee length cord skirt ("carefree cord skirt") that would fill all those functions you mentioned. or a long denim skirt. the bad news? none of these are a pennypincher's price. but they would last for a long, long time, and be one of your favorite pieces, i'm sure. since you didn't have to pop for the plane tickets, maybe you can splurge on the skirt?

    my mouth is already longing for tomorrow's post.

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  37. Got to the old navy web site they have a pencil jean skirt 29.95 that looks just like what you are looking for. Enjoy the dress wearing little girl because in a few years it wont be that way anymore!!!!!!!!

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  38. They look so good. My kids would go crazy over these! I must give them a try sometime. Your kids are so cute :)

    Hope you find a great denim skirt, I really like wearing mine. :)

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  39. Oh I love this idea! I always want to make caramel apples, but it's just too big of a commitment. But I could even see myself walking down the aisle, with this caramel apple.

    Good luck with the skirt. I've been looking for one myself. I think I may just have to use what I have, but if you find something good let me know and vice versa.

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  40. I love this snack. I would do a few of those, not just one. Gorgeous kids.
    How is Gramps doing? I bet he's right back in the swing of things.

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  41. I think is sweet she wants to wear dresses!

    Loving the little bites myself!

    Enjoy your trip and good luck with the wardrobe! :)

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  42. Love those caramel apple slices -- awesome! I have a great denim skirt that I wear all year round to all sorts of functions. I got it at a store called Down East Outfitters. If you go on their website they have 2 really cute knee-length denim skirts www.downeastbasics.com one is the soiree skirt $29.99 and the uptown denim skirt also $29.99. Good luck and I'm jealous about Rome -- how fun!

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  43. Awesome recipe Prudie! Your kids are darling!

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  44. What a cute dress your daughter has on! My daughter picked up on that as soon as the pic came up. Such girly-girls, I love it! Caramel apples are at the top of my dessert list. I always grab them when we travel around and I happen upon a great little candy shop. Your photos are gorgeous.

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  45. Yummy. I just want to let you know I tried your Hamburger bun recipe and it is fabulous. I have been searching forever for one. This is the definate winner. Thank you. If you want a great hamburger recipe look on my blog. I posted one to go with your buns.

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  46. Love these apple wedges, what a hit they would be around here! Your little ones are cute as ever!

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  47. Those apple wedges are so cute, and a great idea...we can never manage to eat a whole caramel apple. Perfect solution! :)

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  48. What a great little snack! I feel so ready for Fall after visiting your blog!

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  49. I love that these are smaller bites... I can't commit to a full-size caramel apple, no matter how much I love caramel.

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  50. I have been craving candy apples for soooo long! your kids are so cute, love the dress :)! Except, I was the complete opposite as a little girl; I would only wear shorts and yet I loooved playing with dolls, a strange combination of girliness.

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  51. I know you have enough awards to fill the entire sidebar! :) But I have an award for you waiting in my blog. On food note, it was when I came to the States that I knew of such thing - caramel apple. And I fell in love with it since!

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  52. I love these! A good thing to make with my grandaughter, she can never eat the whole apple anyway.

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  53. I'm with you and the brief love affair. I love that this only a little bite. Ohh, we are having a party at Mutual tonight to celebrate a boy leaving on his mission. I may bring some of these. I bet they'd love them!!! Thanks for the idea. I love that your little girl loves to wear dresses. I never had one that did. I, so would have liked a daughter that wanted to wear dresses...

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  54. These have to be the cutest kids ever. Also the cleanest, I don't know how you do it. Mine always managed to look like orphans after a short period of time.
    I think the single serving caramel apples are a great idea. The sprinkling of Reese's Pieces just makes them more fun.

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  55. Your kids are so cute! No advice n denim skirts, but please, I want to hear ALL about Rome - we also have a trip planned! Love the fall menu as well - nothing is as good as caramel.

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  56. other than cinnamon, nothing belongs with apples more than caramel. love the pictures. :)

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  57. I just watched a program where they used a melon baller to make mini caramel apples. They turned out adorable.

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  58. Wiley:
    I saw that in Family Fun magazine. Aren't those the cutest?

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  59. I definitely want to make these! That`s one of my all-time favorite treats!!

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  60. You are so cute :)

    Oooh what scrummy caramel apples!

    Rosie x

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  61. Mmm... These look yummy!! My Ashley will only wear dresses as well! Drives me crazy sometimes. But it is less expensive to buy one dress than to buy seperates so that part of it I like :)

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  62. Dresses and skirts are comfy; I don't blame her. I think, anyway.

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  63. These are the perfect fall fare! What a great idea to make those usually massive treats into bite size morsels. My kids would love these!

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  64. You know I love it! Thanks for being with me on making your own caramel, are we the last ones?!

    ...And I would only wear dresses too if they were that cute! Your kids are adorable.

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  65. I'm not sure what looks cuter to me. All of the caramel dripping off the apples or your daughter in that dress! Love it. Of course, your son is a cutie, too!

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  66. what a great way to have a taste of something great w/o over doing it!

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  67. oh and your kids are adorable. i can't believe your daughter will only wear dresses!

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  71. They look Wonderful! I love the Reese's! I've actually linked to this recipe from my blog post featuring Reese's Pieces: http://dontboilmybooks.weebly.com/1/post/2012/10/reeses-pieces-recipes.html

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  72. Oh Prudy, my kids would love this! A perfect little dessert.

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