Fresh Baked Apples

'tis the season to use up those apples ...

There's something about the smell of apples baking in the oven as I glance outside to see the fall colored leaves gently blowing around that just brings peace to my soul. Everybody has something different that in a simple moment can completely melt all the anxiousness, worry, and doubt (or any other bothersome life 'stuff') right off of your heart and for me this is one of them along with listening to Christmas music, snuggling up in the biggest, warmest blanket I can find, and soaking up sun-rays that are pouring through a window ... to name just a few. I strongly encourage discovering the little things that calm your heart!

Today's recipe is from one of my grandmas and it's super simple and easy. I still had about a 1/2 a bushel of apples the Mr. brought home and I wanted to get them used up before they all went to waste, which would be a terrible shame! So last night I wiped up 4 batches (and still have enough for 4 MORE) from start to finish in about an hour and a half, ate one pan last night, another pan today, and sent two home with Momma Bear to serve the residents for lunch at the senior living center.

Fresh Baked Apples

Apples - 

8 to 12 apples (enough to fill a 9 x 13 baking dish)

3/4 cup sugar

2 rounded tablespoons flour

1 1/3 cup water

4 tablespoons butter 

Peel, halve, and core apples. Place core side up in baking dish. Mix sugar, flour, and water together. Pour mixture over apples. Top each apple half with a dab (about a teaspoon, just couldn't bring myself to leave out the word dab) of butter. 

Topping(s) - optional 

cinnamon

1/2 cup brown sugar

4 tablespoons softened butter

2 tablespoons flower

To crumble or not to crumble. You could just top with a sprinkle of cinnamon OR you could mix the brown sugar, butter, and flour together for a crumb topping OR my preference ... BOTH!

Bake at 360 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until tender. 

For the next big batch I make (hopefully tomorrow night), I am going try freezing the baked apples individually in muffin tins and see how they do for the kids' lunches. I will keep you posted how that turns out.