Butternut-Apple Crisp Bars

From Recipes from America’s Small Farms 

3 cups sliced, peeled butternut squash

3 cups sliced, peeled tart apples

1 cup packed light brown sugar

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ tsp salt

6 TBSP unsalted butter

1/3 cup chopped nuts

Ice Cream *optional

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease a 9-inch square baking dish.

Combine the squash and apple slices with ½ of the brown sugar, the lemon juice, the cinnamon, and the cloves, tossing gently, in a large bowl.  Turn into the prepared baking dish, cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the flour, the remaining ½ cup brown sugar, and the salt.  Cut in the butter with a fork until crumbly.  Add the nuts.  Spread evenly over the squash-apple mixture.  Bake uncovered for 40 minutes more.  Cut into squares and serve with ice cream!