TWD: Applesauce Spice Bars

Again, sorry for the lack of creativity on these bars. I pretty much made them straight up.  It's been a crazy week - I moved back to NY (YAY!), then catered a five course dinner for Jack's parent's 30th Anniversary Surprise Party (more on that later in the week) two days later.  The only time I could find time to make these was when I visited my family out on Long Island.  The sun was setting faster than the glaze would, so I apologize for the picture as well.

I wanted to make these at my parent's house regardless because I knew they would love these. My father and grandmother are big fans of apple desserts and I know I'd have a good time making these. My father and my grandmother have a funny relationship.  My father is what one would call a "ball buster" - or as he would say - a "bawl bustah".  My grandmother is a cute little 84-year old Italian American.

As a little background to this story: My father had kindly asked if I would prepare some chicken that was in the refrigerator, since I love to cook. I had agreed. Also, we had no milk.  

Please note that I am writing this in the Long Island accent.

Dad:  I'm going to the staw (store), I'll be back in 45 minutes.

Grandma: Where are you going?

Dad: (louder) To the staw!

Grandma: We need milk.

Dad: Alright.

Grandma:  Bawby (Bobby), did you hear me? We need milk.

Dad: (louder) Alright, ma! 

Grandma:  We need milk! We're almost all out!

Dad: (yelling to me in the kitchen - note: the kitchen is open to the den and I obviously heard all of this) Teanna, could you check the fridge and see if we need some milk. I'm not sure if we need milk.

Grandma: I just told ya! We need milk!  And what about the chicken?

Dad: Teanna's gonna make it.

Grandma: The chicken! In the fridge! It's gonna go bad.

Dad: I know! Teanna's cookin' it!

Grandma: But who's gonna make it?

Dad:  (laughing hysterically now as he walks out the door) Ugh! Ask Teanna!

Grandma:  (looks at me incredulously) He's hard of hearin'!

It's always a good time at the DiMicco house. 

Let me talk about these bars, chosen by Karen of Something Sweet. I have been dying to make these. These would have been my pick when it is my turn in 2036 (I keed, I keed, it is in one year or so).  So I was stoked (yes, stoked) to make these. And they did not disappoint.  Delicious and light (some described these as a cross between a cake and a blondie, but I think they are more like a very light and airy cake), filled with the most wonderful fall spices (cinnamon, allspice, and I added some cloves), soft, sweet bits of apple, and deliciously crunchy pecans, and topped with a delicious brown sugar glaze (which I actually think I may do without next time - not that I didn't like it, but why add the extra calories and fat when the bars were perfection without), these bars are definitely a must-make.

So check out the recipe over at Karen at Something Sweet and then check out the rest of TWD for some more delicious bars! 

I SAID, Check out the recipe over at Karen at Something Sweet and then check out the rest of TWD for some more delicious bars!

And then get ya hearin' checked!   

Comments

[Megan]

Are you kidding? That could be a scene in my house. Like today.

[Steph]

haha.. that was so funny! we always have those kind of family discussions. sometimes they can really hectic when more people join in. I think you did a great job with the photos! I totally agree with you about the glaze and the texture of the cake... I love saving calories too.

[Charli]

That's funny--my glaze set a little too fast and turned into more of a crumble. Either way, I agree these were awesome!

And who's cooking that chicken again?

[Lauryn]

Haha! Don't you love how a family is just build in entertainment!! The bars look great -- I thought they were amazing as well! PS - I used the Carmelized White Chocolate Sauce as my glaze!

[Phyllis (me HUNGRY!)]

LOL! I'm totally fluent in the lawnguyland accent as my hubby is from West Babylon. And the applesauce spice bars, fuggedaboudit! (your photo looks awesome btw)

[Amy]

Love the conversation between your father and grandmother. My dad's family comes from NYC and they had the same round and round, yelling-over-the-shoulder discussions about who's buying what at the market, and what are we doing with the leftover chicken, and get some more of those bananas because they're on sale this week.... Hilarious.

[Carolina]

You always have great blogs. I love your writing. I especially love this post. It is like getting a little "Behind the Scenes" glimpse into your life. Great story. Can hardly wait to hear about the 5-course dinner!

[ingrid]

LOL, too funny your Dad and grandma!

Can't wait to see (& read about) what you cooked up for a FIVE course meal! WOW, Teanna!
~ingrid

[Ulrike]

Your bars looks great!

[Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction]

The applesauce spice bars sound absolutely delicious... I am ready to embrace the fall, so these sound perfect right now!

Also, absolutely loved the chicken/milk story... sounds like my family, although they are not the least bit Italian. :)

[Kim]

These look great. Loved the post.

[Amy (Sing for your supper)]

Haha!! Sounds like a fun family! Your bars look fantastic - I loved them too! I was a huge fan of the glaze, though...mmm!

[jenn]

I could just that scene happening. LOL. That made my day. Awesome bars!

[isa]

They looks delicious! Great Job!

[Sugar B]

Dude, did you the last episode of True Blood? Umm, hello Eric. You don't need Sookie, you need me. I can bake a mean cupcake. He is soooooooooooo hot.

ANYWAY, where was I? Oh yes, your applesauce spice bars are INSANE. Like INSANELY GOOD.

That is so awesome that you made a 5 course meal . . . I would marry you if I wasn't married.

[Andrea@WellnessNotes]

I loved the story...

The bars sound sooo good. Looking at them and reading the recipe made me realize how much I've been missing apple desserts...

[Cheri]

Mmm... I could do with one of these slices right now. They look delicious! Fall is almost here *sob* so I will probably try this soon. I hope you are able to get settled in quickly!

[April]

Love it! The conversation and the bars, yum!

[Katrina]

Go get a Levain cookie for me.
Yum to your bars. Love the photo.
Love your re-enactment story even more! huh?
I said I loved your story.

[Jennifer]

I hope the chicken came out as good as the bars. (Which look delicious, btw.)

[lisaiscooking]

These bars sound so good I want to walk into the kitchen and make them right now. I'll take the extra calories too because the glaze looks fantatic.

[Jill]

Ha, you should sign up your family for a reality show! I skipped this one, but I think my dad would like it a lot - he's an apple dessert kind of guy too.

[pamela]

Sounds like a day at my husbands Grandma's house!! Congrats on the move! Looking forward to reading about that party you catered. And finally, lovely applesauce spice bars you have there.

[Mike]

What a great family you have - animated and full of life! Cherish them! LOVE the bars.. .I wish I went "flatter and lower". But it was delicious anyway - so moist. And that icing was to die for - a caramel that was so easy to make... loved it! Congrats on getting back home! Enjoy NYC!

[Leslie]

Hilarious! Who needs to pay for entertainment when we have families! Those bars were delicious on their own, but the glaze took them to a whole new level.