Do you realize it is only 8 more days until Summer is over and Fall begins. The air is cooler in the morning and overnights. That helps the apples ripen and turn that beautiful red color. So when that happens, I start thinking of picking apples. And cooking with them. Applesauce, Apple Crisp, Apple Crumb Cake, Apple Pie, Apple Muffins. I could go on. I have a recipe for Baked Apples. I must confess, I have tried baked apples before and they were not my favorite, But I came across this recipe that some of you may want to add to your apple recipe box. I think you could also use this topping for an apple crisp, Let me know how they are. You may change my mind and I will have to try them.
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp Cinnamon
3/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
6 Gala, Honeycrisp or Fuji apples**
1/2 cup apple juice or water
**My recipe may not have come out very good because I used McIntosh apples which experts say is not good for baking in pies as they get mushy. That is what happened to my baked apples.
Center a rack in the oven and heat to 375 degrees.
In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, walnuts, spices and salt. Stir in Maple Syrup, lemon juice and oil until oats are evenly coated. Set this aside.
Grease a 9″ x 13″ baking dish. use a paring knife to cut around stem of apple to remove core, being careful to not cut all the way through to the bottom.
Scoop out any remaining bit of the core with a small spoon or melon baller.
The opening should be about 1 1/2″ to 2″ in diameter. Then transfer apples to the greased baking dish
Spoon oat mixture into the opening in the apples. If you have enough topping left, you may round up the topping a little on the apples. Pour apple juice or water into the baking dish.
Bake until apples are tender and topping is browned. This should take about 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Serve with a scoop of ice cream or whipped topping. Because….why not?
Cooking for Two 