Comfort Food for the Mind, Body, and Soul: CARAMEL APPLE PIE

 By Sharon Fox

 
6 cups sliced peeled ripe apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 box (15 oz) refrigerated pie crusts, 
softened as directed on box
3/4 cup old-fashioned oats
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup cold butter or margarine
18 caramels, unwrapped
5 tablespoons milk
1/4 cup chopped pecans
 
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 400°F. In large bowl, mix apples and lemon juice. In small bowl, mix 1/2 cup sugar, the tapioca, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Add to apples; stir gently. Let stand 15 minutes. Place 1 pie crust in ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate. Pour apple mixture into pastry-lined pie plate.
2. In small bowl, mix oats, flour and 3 tablespoons sugar. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Cut second crust into wedges; arrange wedges in an alternate pattern across the mixture.
3. Bake 45 minutes. Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, heat caramels and milk over low heat until caramels are melted. Stir until smooth; add pecans. Drizzle over pie. Bake 8 to 10 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 2 hours.
 
“Comfort Food for the Mind, Body, and Soul” will be released April 2011. Log on to http://goodcookin4u2.webs.com/.  Sharon Fox will be launching a program to prevent child abuse “The Southern Hospitality Protect Our Children Tour”.
 
This was printed in the April 24, 2011 – May 7, 2011 edition