APPLE STREUSEL SQUARES

Steps:

• Set oven to 375 degrees.
• Lightly grease a 13 x 9-inch metal baking pan.
• Prepare the streusel topping (as follows).
• In a medium bowl, with hands, mix the 3/4 cup flour, pecans, 1/3 cup brown sugar, butter, vanilla and cinnamon until the mixture comes together; set aside.
• To prepare the crust: In a large bowl, mix together the 2 tbsp flour sugar and salt.
• Cut in 1/2 cup COLD butter into small bits.
• With fingertips, blend the cold butter into the flour mixture, until it resembles fine crumbs.
• Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
• Bake crust for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown (crust may crack slightly).
• Meanwhile, in a 10-inch skillet, over medium heat, cook the apples, raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon, and 3 Tbsp butter for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender (but not mushy).
• In a cup, mix the cornstarch and lemon juice; stir the mixture into the apple mixture (the mixture will thicken almost immediately); remove from heat.
• Spoon the apple mixture evenly over the baked crust.
• Scatter the streusel mixture over the apple mixture in the pan.
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until streusel is browned.
• Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
• When cold, cut lenghwise into 3 strips, then cut each strip crosswise into 5 pieces.