One night I had a deep need to satisfy my sweet tooth. I didn't want cakes or cookies. I rooted around the fridge and found two apples. They were macintosh apples, not a typical baking apple. I considered baking the apples whole. While looking through the cupboards I spotted my tart pan and some graham cracker crumbs, and this tart was born.
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (or margine, vegan margarine), cubed
2 apples peeled, cored and sliced
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt, optional (not used here)
Step 1: The Crust
Preheat over to 350 degrees F. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a microwave safe bowl or measuring cup. Microwave for 1 minute, stir and microwave for another minute or until the butter is melted. Stir until well combined.
Press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of a tart pan. Employing the bottom of a glass is helpful here. For ease of removal adding a parchment paper round in the tart pan before adding the mixture is a good idea. Do not subtitle wax paper for parchment paper. While not ideal, an aluminum foil round can be use as a substitute.
Place the tart pan in to the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove it from the oven and allow the crust to rest for 5 minutes.
Step 2: The Filling
While the crust is baking combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Gently evenly distribute the apple mixture over the crust. Bake the tart for 20 minutes until the apples are bubbly. Let the tart rest and cool for 30 minutes to an hour. Remove the rim of the tart pan, and gently remove the tart for serving.