Halloween 2016

Last night was our 2nd Annual Halloween Party! In similar fashion to last year we invited several people from our "new" ward to get to know them better. We had two newbies show up along with people in the "new" ward who moved over with us. Fun to get to know everyone in silly get-ups and feel like a kid again!

While looking at several different Halloween foods online, I decided to attempt to mesh two ideas together. Welcome the...

SHRUNKEN HEAD APPLE CRISP

 8 medium apples, like Jonagold, Fuji, or Gala
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Pinch ground cloves 
4 tablespoon butter
1 cup water


Preheat oven to 375°F with a rack in the lower-middle position.

Remove the core of the apples using a melon baller. Cut within a half-inch of the bottom of the apple and create a cavity about 1-inch wide. Peel the outside of the apple. If apple doesn't stand on it's own, cut a small about of the bottom bumps off the apple to give it a flat surface to rest on. Cut face in the side of the apple with a small paring knife. Cut about 1/2" deep- no need to carve all the way through.

I learned the hard way to cut in the butter and peel the apples... Learn from my mistakes!

Mix the dry ingredients. Cut in butter until well blended. Fill each apple with mixture, dividing  evenly between each apple. Make sure to pack mixture firmly.

Arrange the apples in a baking dish (9x13 worked well). Pour the water into the bottom of the dish and cover loosely with aluminum foil.

Bake for 20 minutes and remove foil. Continue baking uncovered until the apples are soft and the brown sugar has melted into a syrup approximately 30-40 minutes.

Even peeling them after baking, they still look creepy!

Inspiration from http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-baked-apples-stuffed-with-oatmeal-brown-sugar-75752 and http://www.tryanythingonceculinary.com/shrunken-heads-baked-apple-recipe/