Great Things To Do With Apples

You want your kids to eat apples, but they want sweets instead? Here are a couple of compromises. 

Crispy Apple Chips
2 ripe medium-sized apples. It doesn't matter what kind of apple.
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
A dash of nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 225F.  Remove the core from the apple and slice into very thin rings. Spread them in a single layer onto a sprayed-down cookie sheet. Combine sugar and spices in a bowl and sprinkle over the apples. Bake for about 45 minutes or until the edges start to curl up. Remove from oven and allow to cool until crisp.

Here's a fun mix of apples and a traditional campfire treat.

S'mores Apples
6 Granny Smith apples
1 14-oz package of caramels, unwrapped
1 1/2 cups crushed graham crackers
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tbsp water
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Lightly grease a piece of foil and put it on a cookie sheet. Put a wooden Popsicle stick in the top of each apple and place on the foil.

In a saucepan over low heat, combine water and caramels. Cook until caramel melts smoothly, stirring often. Add vanilla. Then, run each apple along the sides of the pan to coat with caramel. Scrape any excess caramel over the side of the pan.

Then, lay the graham cracker crumbs and marshmallows on a plate and roll each apple in the mixture. If you like, you can roll them in nuts or any other "extra". Put back onto the foil and refrigerate.

Now, melt the chocolate chips in a bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring to prevent burning. When melted, drizzle them over the chilled apples and put them back in the refrigerator. When chocolate hardens, you're ready to serve.

Enjoy!