Caramel Apple Brownies

I was working on filling out my ballot today. It reminded me how much division we have in this country and how extreme we can be. It has come to the point of if your view of this world has you leaning a little to one side then you have to hate the the other side on principle and don't you dare question where you stand or why. It seems the only way a side can gain support is by erasing the middle ground all together and to force the voter to chose which extreme they feel most comfortable with. However, when that doesn't work, they begin to focus on the outrageous and monotonous topics so much that when it becomes so dark that the flick of a match will seem like the clear burning sun you've been searching for. 

With that being said, Caramel Apple Brownies have no middle ground. They are just delicious.

Caramel Apple Brownies

1 Cup of Chocolate
1 Cup of Butter

4 Eggs
1 Cup of Caster Sugar
½ Tsp of Salt
½ Cup of Flour (give or take ¼ cup)

1 Cup of Applesauce 

½ Cup soft caramel 

-         -  Heat oven to 350^o­

-          - Melt Chocolate and Butter together

-          - Whisk Eggs, Sugar, Salt

-          - Add Chocolate to Eggs and Sugar

-          - Sift Flour and stir until mixed 

      - Pour into your brownie pan

      - Mix together applesauce and caramel, pour onto the batter and swirl (Do not over mix) 

- Cook time – 35 – 40 Minutes

Applesauce

6 apples (I used granny smith apples, super tart applesauce but great in brownies and pork meatballs)

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 tbls butter

½ lemon

½ cup water

- Peel and dice the apples

- Combine apples with sugar, butter, lemon and water into large pot and place over medium high heat

- Let it cook for 25 minutes or so stirring it often

- When the apples are tender, remove from heat and puree (or mash if you want it chunkier)

You can add cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, apple juice instead of water... really what ever you think will be tasty. 

Caramel Sauce

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup white corn syrup

4 tbls butter

1 cup half and half (split in half)

Pinch of salt

1 tbls vanilla

- In heavy sauce pan, combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, and ½ cup half and half

- Bring mix to a boil over moderate heat, stir constantly 

- When the mix comes to a boil add the extra ½ cup of half and half and stir

- As the mix thickens, reduce heat and stir constantly 

- Cook until a little dropped in ice water forms a ball and flattens when removed

- Remove from heat and add the vanilla 

PJ