Red Hots Apple Pie

if you haven't noticed that i LOVE red hots from reading my blog...i tell you now....i love red hots.  i have made red hots jello with them, red hots popcorn with them and now i have just made red hots apple pies!

what i love about this apple pie recipe, it that the apples turn a blush pink! perfect for Valentine's Day. and the recipe can be adjusted if you would rather add different spices. and you can even use your favorite apple pie recipe and just use red hots instead of the cinnamon.

ingredients:
pastry for a double-crust pie or small tarts
1 c. sugar
2 tbsp. flour
1 tbsp. cornstarch
⅛ c. Red Hots cinnamon candies
¼ tsp. nutmeg
⅛ tsp. salt
7-8 c. apples (peeled and sliced)
1 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. vanilla (half-strength) optional

directions:
♥   prepare your pie crusts. combine sugar, flour, cornstarch, red hots, nutmeg & salt; mix thoroughly.
♥   in a large bowl, mix your sliced apples with the dry ingredients.
♥   heap into a pastry-lined pie pan.
♥   dot with butter, and sprinkle with the diluted half-strength vanilla.
♥   add top crust, flute edges, cut steam vents.
♥   bake at 425 degrees for 50 minutes.
(if the edges start to burn, use a ring of aluminum foil.)

to make heart shaped mini pies:
♥   using a large heart shaped cookie cutter as your guide, cut the rolled-out pastry dough slightly bigger than the heart for the bottom of your pies.
♥   place a mound of apple filling on the center of the dough. (smaller pieces of apple work best for mini pies)
♥   lay another piece of rolled out dough on top of apples and press along the outside to seal.
♥   using your heart shaped cookie cutter, cut excess dough to create your heart.
♥   using a fork, press softly along the outside edges to further seal and create decorative edge.
♥   cut steam vents.
♥   bake 30 minutes or until golden brown