Caramel Apple Roses for Valentine's Day

      CARAMEL APPLE ROSE TARTS     

Makes 6.

1 Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Ambrosia or Gala apple

6 T. purchased caramel sauce plus more for garnish

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

Coarse sugar

Vanilla Ice cream

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Core the apple and cut in half--do not peel; slice thinly.  Arrange apple slices in a single layer on a plate and microwave on

 HIGH power for about 45 seconds to soften; cool.

2. Cut puff pastry across into 6 equal strips.  Brush each strip along the top half with 1 T. caramel sauce.  Place apple slices lengthwise with skin edge up on the long edge of the dough over the caramel sauce, sticking about 1/4 inch above the edge of the dough and slightly overlapping.  Fold the bottom half of the dough over the apple slices leaving the skin-edges of the slices exposed.  Starting the one end, roll the dough up in a spiral to form a rose-shaped pastry.

3. Generously butter or spray a 6-cup muffin pan and transfer a rose to each cup, 

apple edge up.  Sprinkle with a bit of coarse sugar.  Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until well browned.  Cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes but no longer.  Remove from muffin pan and cool on a rack.  Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream and drizzled 

with more caramel sauce.