Apple Brownies

 This cold weather calls for comfort food! If you are snowed or iced in, bake a batch of these yummy brownies and I can assure you, they will warm up your day! These brownies are so quick and easy to make. I adapted this recipe from Martha Stewart. If you are watching your cholesterol, you can substitute margarine for butter, but really- the butter is what makes them so good! Make sure you use firm, sweet apples.

Apple Brownies

1 stick of butter, melted and cooled
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 firm, sweet apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1. Whisk all the dry ingredients together.
2. In a separate bowl, beat together butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg with a mixer for about 2 minutes. Add walnuts and apples and mix thoroughly by hand.
3. Pour flour mixture into batter and stir until thoroughly combined.
4. Grease  an 8 by 11 baking pan. Spread batter in pan.
5. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Top should be a golden brown and and should be slightly firm.
6. Let cool for at least 30 minutes then cut into bars.