Apple Walnut Squares

Grace has been plugging apples for a while now, and at last my boys have brought in a basket or two of apples from our trees. Well, we call them "the orchard", but I don't know how many trees you have to make an orchard. Anyway, it's fun for the kids to have an 80 year old orchard, isn't it? And from trees that old, you know that these apples are good, not like the flavorless mush they sell in supermarkets these days which are simply called "apples". I digress.

I found this in my Bon Appetit cookbook entitled "Too Busy to Cook?" Interestingly, I found the mail order receipt for this cookbook tucked safely inside it; it dates from 1981. I guess even then I wanted better quality food, without spending all day at it. And this dessert certainly proves that it can be done. Again, I digress. So, without further detour, I present.....

APPLE WALNUT SQUARES

2 cups flour
2 cups brown sugar
1 stick butter, at room temperature
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 egg
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups shredded apple

Stir together the flour, sugar and softened butter, until the mixture is crumbly. Add the nuts. Press 2 cups of this mixture into a greased 9"x13" baking pan.

To the balance of the flour mix, add the salt, soda, cinnamon, egg, sour cream and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in the shredded apples, and spread atop the mixture which was pressed into the baking pan. Bake at 350F for 35 to 45 minutes.
Now, for the Marjie version of shredded apples, don't fret over peeling the apples. Quarter them, cut out the cores, and put them through your food processor with the grater plate in it. After each batch, you can take the lid off and remove the apple skins from the processor. If a little of the skin remains on the shreds, it won't matter. Was anyone ever harmed by a little more fiber? Anyway, save your precious time for something else.

Serve this warm with ice cream or whipped cream. It is very filling, so don't start out with too big a portion, unless you want to drag your tummy around the house for a while!