CRISP APPLES FOR EATING RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
• Arrange apple slices evenly in prepared baking dish. Sift flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal; sprinkle over apples.
• Bake in preheated oven until topping is golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat an 8-inch square metal baking pan with cooking spray.
• Cut apples in half horizontally. Use a melon baller or small spoon to scoop out the flesh of each apple half, leaving about 1/8-inch-thick shell. Remove and discard the seeds and core; reserve the flesh. Place the apple halves in the prepared baking pan.
• Finely chop the apple flesh; transfer to a medium bowl. Add 2 teaspoons brown sugar, vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 pinch of salt. Stir well. Divide among the apple halves (about 1/4 cup each).
• Combine flour, oats, pecans, the remaining 2 teaspoons brown sugar, remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and remaining pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Using your fingers or a pastry blender, cut the butter into the dry mixture until it resembles small pebbles. Mound about 1/4 cup topping onto each apple. Bake until the apples are tender and the tops are browned, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.