Maybe don't schedule a meeting 12 hours before you leave....

Things to remember for the future, maybe not have a meeting at your house the night before you leave on a weeklong trip that you are flying to. Just a thought. I mean we didn't... but maybe learn from what we did and don't do that. Andy was having a meeting and needed treats. I was trying to get us ready to go, get my kids ready to be at my folks, get their dinners all ready and groceries organized too. Needless to say - I should have bought a pie - but instead I made Andy help me. He made the crust a few days ahead of time. Then the night before I made the filling and tossed it in the oven with some cookies. Hindsight - I would have made it the same day. I thought it got a little soft - but Andy and Nicholas both had some and said they wouldn't change anything. I guess their opinion counts since they ate it and I did not. But it was an easy recipe, easy to somewhat prep ahead, and it made nine servings which were easy to get out of the pan. Certainly more of a fall treat but hey... we have no peaches this year - bring on the apple desserts! We have two trees packed with apples and another with pears!

Apple Crumb Bars
3/4 cup brown sugar divided
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1½ cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour divided
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold butter cut into small pieces
1 large egg
3 cup chopped apples 3 to 4 apples
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prepare a 9-inch baking pan by lining it with parchment paper or applying a light coating of baking spray. This aids in preventing sticking and facilitates easier removal of the baked product. Set the pan aside.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup of brown sugar, the baking powder, a pinch of salt, and 1 1/2 cups of flour. Whisk these ingredients together for approximately 15-30 seconds, ensuring an even mixture.
Add the butter and egg to the dry mixture. Stir the ingredients until they reach a coarse crumb-like texture. You may need to cut the butter in with a pastry blender to help it crumble.
Transfer 2/3 of this mixture into the prepared baking pan. Press down firmly to form an even, compact layer. Use clean hands or the back of a spoon for this process, ensuring uniform thickness.
In another bowl, combine the sliced apples with the remaining 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix until the apples are evenly coated.
Pour the apple mixture over the pressed crust in the pan, smoothing it into an even layer.
Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the apple layer, making sure to cover completely.
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top turns a golden brown color.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. This step is essential for the structural integrity of the bars.
Once cooled, cut the bake into squares. These can be served as they are or with a scoop of ice cream for added indulgence.