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

[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.

[vibi]

Ding! Dong!

I smelled those from miles away... Mmmmmm...

[Elizabeth - Cake or Death?]

Ha, your family is hilarious. Good thing you had these apple bars to iron out any misunderstandings. :) Glad you loved them--I thought they were fab too.

[Natasha - 5 Star Foodie]

What a fun conversation - thanks for sharing, excellent! The apple spice bars look great, my daughter has already been asking for apple desserts, she would love these!

[Sara]

Its nice to know other people's families are like that, too!

I love apple desserts and these look awesome!

[Ashley]

Mmm yummy I loved these bars when I made them!

[Margot]

Ha! Glad to hear you've made the move back, the bars look great!

[steph (whisk/spoon)]

welcome back home! straight up, these bars were just great!

[Margaret]

Aren't parents/grandparents wonderful?? Always a new adventure!!!

Bars look great.

[Caitlin]

I totally want to meet your family. That scene is just awesome! My mom grew up in upstate NY, but we do the Irish Catholic thing instead. Lots of potatoes, with a nice side helping of guilt :) Can't wait to hear about the catering gig!

[Sarah]

These were surprisingly yummy bars, yours look delicious! BTW, I was looking at the revised TWD recipe rotation page - miraculously, I actually get to pick one... in three years... Anyway, I noticed that your name is missing! I posted a comment about it on that page, and Laurie replied that you should contact her. Hope you're settling in, congrats on moving back to NYC - I often entertain thoughts of doing the same thing, however unrealistic it may be...

[Jules]

Hehehehehe. Glad you enjoyed it! I'm thinking skipping the glaze was a big mistake. Ooops.

[Jennifer]

What funny banter between the two of them!

Your bars look awesome!!!

[Tracey]

Haha family can be so funny! Sounds like yours is a blast! Your bars look terrific. I loved these, especially with the glaze, so I gave them away to avoid eating all of them myself :)

[Jessica]

So that was what I heard coming across L.I. Sound! Just kidding. Your bars look great - and the glaze was amazing.

[somethingsweetbykaren]

loved the story. glad you liked the bars. sorry i stole your choice. :P