baked apples and a little begging...

I had baked apples once as a kid. I wasn't too impressed, but then again I was picky and fruit didn't count as dessert in my books. Fortunately, tastes change and baked apples are pretty rad. And easy to make. It helps if you've already got dinner in the oven, so the oven is nice and heated, but if not that's okay too! It's winter and turning on the oven certainly helps to heat up our apartment.

I got the idea for this dish when I looked in my fruit crisper and saw three sad looking apples. These babies needed a higher purpose and baking them into soft sweet dessert is a fitting end, I think. To stuff the apples, I just used stuff found in my cupboards...my homemade granola and bits of nuts and dried fruit. Any nuts, coconut or dried fruit would work. Dried figs would be wonderful here! I used hazelnuts but honestly, I wasn't a fan of them in this dish. Next time I'll use almonds, walnuts of pecans instead. I used brown sugar, but raw sugar or honey would be nice too. I also cut down the butter since I was going to be serving this with ice cream...no need to add a huge amount of extra fat! And if you don't have port, don't bother running out to buy some. Just use apple juice, red wine, brandy or even water would be fine. Simple and easily adaptable...my favorite kind of recipe!

And hey look, I've been nominated as Best Canadian Weblog for the 2009 Bloggies! I'm so super excited, more so than I'd care to admit, but dammit, I'm thrilled! Voting is open until February 2nd and if you could spare the time and wouldn't mind throwing me a vote for Best Canadian Blog, I'd be so thankful! Thank you also to everyone who took time out to nominate for me. I'm not much of a begger, but pretty please with sugar on top? Please, please, please vote for me. Thank you!!

baked apples in port
3 apples, cored
2 T brown sugar
3 T granola
1 T dried cranberries
1 T chopped almonds, walnuts or pecans
1 t butter
1/4 c port (or apple cider or cranberry juice)

1. Preheat oven to 350. To core the apples, use a paring knife and cut a triangle shaped wedge out of the top of the apple. Use a spoon to get out the remaining core. Do not cut through to the bottom of the apple. Place apples in a small glass baking dish.

2. In a small bowl combine the brown sugar, granola, dried cranberries and nuts together and stuff into each apple. Divide the teaspoon of butter into three and plop a the butter on top of each apple. Pour port on the bottom of the baking dish.

3. Bake for 30 minutes, basting occasionally. Serve with ice cream.