Baked Apples

Well it's Fall time again. By far my favorite season! It's just too bad that here in Utah, Fall doesn't last too long before the snow arrives. So instead of enjoying a freezing Autumn outside, I like to enjoy it inside with Autumn flavors and recipes. Baked apples are DEFINITELY the true taste of Fall. I made this last Thanksgiving for the first time...and WOW, so delicious!! At the time I was craving oatmeal, and ice cream and then somehow I landed on baked apples. Funny how the mind works, huh? Anyways...you have to try this recipe. It's so gooooood and super easy to make! Hope you enjoy it as much as Casey and I did :)

Ingredients  (serves 4)

4 large Golden Delicious apples

3 tablespoons lemon juice

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup instant oatmeal mix (I used cinnamon oatmeal)

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

4 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

1/8 cup dried cranberries (craisins)

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup apple cider

1 pint vanilla ice cream

1. Preheat oven to 425*F.
2. Carefully peel each apple entirely. Cut the top 1/2 inch or so of the apple off (to make a "lid").
3. Remove the cores, taking care not to pierce through the bottom of the apple (I make kind of a cone shape).
4. Make the core nice and wide, so there is plenty of room for the filling :)
5. Soak each apple and their lids in lemon juice for 30 seconds, or until ready to use.
6. Mix remaining ingredients together, except for the butter.
7. Stuff each apple in layers; first oatmeal mix and then a small piece of butter. Continue this way until the apple is packed super tight and then place one more piece of butter on top.
8. Cover each apple with it's own lid.
9. Place apples in an 8x8 baking dish and pour apple cider in bottom of dish.
10. Bake for 25 minutes.
11. Put each apple in a bowl with a large scoop of ice cream.
12. Drizzle a couple spoonfuls of the baked apple cider juice on top of each apple and enjoy!!