BAKED APPLES

Baked apples are easy and delicious!

4 large unpeeled tart cooking apples (Rome, Granny Smith, or Gala)

2-4 tablespoons granulated or packed brown sugar

4 teaspoons butter or stick margarine

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/3 cup golden raisins (optional)

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Core apples to within 1/2 inch of bottom. Peel 1-inch strip of skin around the middle of each apple, or peel upper half of each to prevent splitting. Place apples in ungreased baking dish.

Place 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon butter and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon in center of each apple. Add raisins to each apple is you are using them. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon. Pour water into baking dish until 1/4 inch deep.

Bake 30-40 minutes or until apples are tender when pierced with fork. (Time will vary depending on size and variety of apple.) Spoon syrup in dish over apples several times during baking. My family loves a scoop of vanilla ice cream over baked apples while they are hot from the oven.

Serves 4.