Caramel Apple a’ la Mode – 5 Weight Watchers Smart Points / 4 Points Plus

Sometimes a recipe is so simple I hesitate to even call it a recipe.  And then I realize that if I don’t write it down I won’t remember how to make it again.  Or even to make it again.  Or that it was only Five Smart Points.  *quiver* Five. Little.  Points.

Now that we have moved downtown we spend much more time walking when we do dine out and even some shopping.  When the weather is nice we have a farmers market and the eclectic collection of music on the square is worth the walk even if only for a few minutes.  We also have a Mast General store which is aptly named…you can almost see Mr Ziffle leaning on the counter at Druckers with his thumbs firmly planted in his suspenders.  I love to look thru the jams and jellies, local honey, they even have pickled watermelon rinds.  Yeah, we tried them.  Once.

What fascinates me most about that odd collection of clothing, hiking gear, regional foods and kitchen gadgets are the whiskey barrels full of candy.  Many are things I haven’t seen since I was a kid…Kits, BB Bats, Chick O’Stix and yes…my beloved Bit O’ Honeys.  We always end up with a small bag “for my husband” and I try to only add an item or two so I don’t nibble my points away all the way home.

On our last trip I was mindlessly running my fingers through the various kinds of caramels and wondering why I didn’t know there were flavors…isn’t caramel just caramel?  And because I was in such deep, mind stretching thought they went in my basket.  Along with a few other things.  And a few more.  Luckily my husband broke my hypnotic candy barrel gaze and asked what I was doing.  Ummmmm….research for the blog?

So after he jerked me back into reality with “the look” I decided I did want to consciously choose some caramels, and two each of a few other selections but return the rest to their colorful sweet locations.  This could be blog research and maybe satisfy my sudden urgent need for caramel that wasn’t there when we were in the winter boot section.  Right?

I barely waited until we had walked through the door before I started preparing my apple for this “research”.  Dinner was still heating but I was already ready for caramel.  Slight moment of panic when I wondered whether or not I still had any frozen whipped topping left but you can breathe…I did.

Caramel Apple a’ la Mode – 5 Weight Watchers Smart Points / 4 Points Plus

Ingredients:

• 1 firm apple
• 2 caramels
• 1 Tbsp water
• 2 Tbsp light whipped topping (I use Skinny TruWhip)

Core apple and place in a microwave AND oven safe crock dish or bowl with the water, microwave uncovered on high for 3 minutes.  Carefully remove from microwave and place on a cookie sheet, poke two unwrapped caramels in center of apple, lightly cover with aluminum foil and place in oven preheated to 375.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Very carefully remove from oven and allow to cool slightly for 5 minutes (if you add the whipped topping too fast it will just melt!).  Add whipped topping, spoon a little of the melted caramel from the bottom of the bowl back over the top, and watch your family drool and wish they were eating “diet food”.

For more great ideas or to view my Trader Joes, Costco and Aldi growing Smart Points database join us on Facebook at If You Have An Egg…A Weight Watchers Support Group!

Link to the Apple store is: https://appsto.re/us/NXKadb.i

Link to the Google play store is: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details…