Food: Labor Day Relief?

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In: Lifestyle

Chef Hunter Lee/Contributing Writer

Let’s get shakin!!!

As I see the kiddos returning to school, my social media is flooded with first day back to school pictures; I reminisce. I don’t have children but most of my friends do.

I remember back to when I was young when their parents were young. Back to school shopping, moms and dads exhausted from the summer heat and let’s be honest, THE KIDS.

I remember Labor Day weekend, I remember it was the last hoorah, it meant the long hot days of our southern summer were coming slowly to an end. I remember growing up we never started school before Labor Day.

Why do they now? Labor Day was created in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day symbolizes the end of summer, and is usually celebrated with parties, street parades and athletic events. Even though school has or is starting, I have the perfect little treat to serve or take to this year’s festivities or to make and celebrate at home with the kiddos that are now out of your hair 7 hours a day.

Treat yourself, summers ending, you made it! 

Summer Apple Bites 

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray
  • 1 c. (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 1/2 c. granulated sugar
  • 1/4 c. packed brown sugar 
  • 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 

For the Filling

  • 6 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1/2 c. packed brown sugar 
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

For the Topping

  • 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
  • 1 c. chopped pecans
  • 1 c. packed brown sugar 
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted
  • Caramel, for serving

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350° and line a 9”-x-13” pan with parchment then grease with cooking spray. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add flour and salt and mix until just combined. 
  • Press into prepared pan about 1/2” up sides. Bake until lightly golden, 20 minutes. 
  • In a large bowl, toss apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt together. Spread apples over crust. 
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pecans, brown sugar, and salt. Stir in melted butter until coarse clumps form.
  • Sprinkle crumb topping over apples and bake until top is golden, and apples are soft, about 1 hour. 
  • Let cool at least 15 minutes then slice into squares and drizzle with caramel before serving.

Remember, “treat your kitchen, treat yourself”

Uniquely southern, surely the best  Chef Hunter Lee