Baked Apples Vermont Food

SLAB APPLE PIE WITH LATTICE CRUST

Steps:

• Peel, core and cut the apples into 1/4-inch slices. Toss the slices in a bowl with the lemon juice and zest to keep them from browning. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Sprinkle this over the apples and toss until the fruit is evenly coated.
• Melt the butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Add the apple mixture and saute for 5 minutes. Add the cream and vanilla and continue to cook the apples, stirring often, until the juices thicken and the apples are just tender, 5 to 10 minutes more (see Cook's Note). Set aside to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Roll out one-third of the tripled pie dough into a large (about 14-by-19-inch) rectangle. Wrap the dough loosely around the rolling pin and transfer it to a half-sheet pan, gently pressing it into the edges and corners of the pan. Prick the bottom of the dough all over with a fork, then refrigerate.
• Roll the remaining two batches of dough into one large, rough 1/4-inch-thick rectangle. Slice into lattice strips. (You can cut them all even thickness or alternate between thick and thin strips. I cut 1 1/4-inch strips and 1/2-inch strips.) Gather any dough scraps, wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• Build the lattice on a sheet of parchment set on the back side of a half-sheet pan sprinkled with flour. Start by laying strips crosswise about 1/2 inch apart. Gently fold every other strip halfway over. Place a strip lengthwise on the parchment and fold the shorter strips back over. Fold up the opposite strips you just used and place another strip lengthwise; fold the short strips back over. Repeat on both sides until you have a basket weave pattern. Roll out any remaining dough scraps and use cookie cutters to cut leaf or flower shapes. Place the lattice and sheet pan in the freezer while the filling cools.
• Assembly: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spoon the cooled filling onto the bottom crust in an even layer. Slide the chilled lattice top onto the bottom crust, using the parchment to help. With a sharp knife, cut the lattice flush with the edges of the pan. Use egg wash to adhere any cut-outs to the top of the pie. Brush egg wash over the crust and sprinkle with sanding sugar.
• Bake until the filling is bubbling in the center and the top and bottom crusts are golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, pulse together the flour, salt, sugar and butter until the mixture resembles cornmeal with some pea-size pieces of butter remaining.
• In a small bowl, stir together the ice water and the lemon juice. Slowly add the liquid to the flour mixture, pulsing, until the dough just comes together. Squeeze a small piece of dough between your thumb and index finger to make sure it holds its shape.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently turn it over each a few times so that any dry bits are incorporated. Form into a disk or rectangle, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
• Adapted from "Pie It Forward: Pies, Tarts, Tortes, Galettes, and Other Pastries Reinvented" by Gesine Bullock-Prado © Stewart, Tabori & Chang 2012. Provided courtesy of Gesine Bullock-Prado. All rights reserved.

BAKED APPLES WITH OATMEAL AND YOGURT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cut off the top third of each apple. With a small knife, and working from the top of each apple, carefully carve out a large "bowl," including the core, about 2 inches in diameter. Rub the cut part with lemon and put the apples into a 9-inch square baking dish. Dice the carved-out parts of the apples, without the seeds, and set aside. Melt the butter in a small saucepan, and then whisk in 4 tablespoons of the muscovado sugar, the cinnamon and pepper and cook until smooth. Brush the inside of the apples with the butter mixture. Pour the apple cider into the bottom of the baking dish. Cover the dish with foil and bake until the apples are tender, about 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 5 minutes longer. Transfer the apples to a platter. Carefully strain the cooking liquid into a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Cook until it is reduced and thickened, about 5 minutes. While the apples are baking, stir the hot milk, remaining muscovado sugar, reserved chopped apples and orange zest into the warm oatmeal and cook for a few minutes. Divide the oatmeal among the baked apples. Top each apple with a dollop of yogurt and drizzle the reduced cider over the top.

BAKED APPLES VERMONT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Place apples in a baking dish.
• Place a teaspoon of butter in each apple; pour syrup or brown sugar over apples.
• Pour water in the pan and bake until soft, about 1/2 hour, basting every five minutes or so.
• Serve with heavy cream or vanilla ice cream.

BAKED APPLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Wash and core apples, leaving enough of the core at the base of the apple to contain the filling.
• Combine the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and chopped pecans in a small bowl. Roll log shapes of the mixture and press enough into each apple to fill the core.
• Fill a 2-quart baking dish with about 3/4 cup water, or enough to cover the bottom. Place the apples upright in the dish. Bake until the apples are soft and the filling is browned, 1 hour.

VERMONT BAKED APPLES

Steps:

• Position oven rack 1/3 up from bottom of oven; preheat to 400°.
• Have ready a shallow baking dish that measures 11x8 inches.
• With scissors, cut the dates into small pieces ( ¼ to ½ inch).
• In a bowl, combine the dates, honey, pecans, and lemon rind; set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine the crumbs with the cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger; set aside.
• Wash the apples; with a vegetable peeler, peel the top third of each apple.
• With an apple corer, remove the cores from the stem end to about ¾ of the way down; do not cut through the bottoms.
• With a pastry brush, brush the peeled part of the apples with the melted butter and, after you brush each one, roll it in the crumbs to coat the buttered part (you will have some leftover butter and crumbs; reserve them).
• Place the apples in the baking dish; using a small spoon, fill the apples with the date mixture.
• Using your fingertips, press it firmly down into the holes in the apples; then mound some of the mixture on top of the apples.
• All the remaining crumb mixture should be sprinkled over the apples and/or placed in the baking dish.
• Pour the reserved butter into the dish over the crumbs.
• Pour the maple syrup and boiling water in the baking dish around the apples over the crumbs and butter.
• Bake for about 30 minutes; baste several times with the maple syrup mixture, or spoon it slowly over the apples.
• Test the apples with a cake tester and bake only until they are just barely tender.
• By the time the apples are done, the sauce should be thick and darkly caramelized.
• Set aside and serve warm or at room temperature or refrigerated.

BAKED APPLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Scoop out the core from top of the apple, leaving a well. Do not cut all the way through. Stuff each apple with 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 tablespoon butter. Place in a shallow baking dish and sprinkle with cinnamon.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, until sugar begins to caramelize and apples are tender.

VERMONT APPLE CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Place apples in an 8x8 pan and toss with the maple syrup.
• In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients; cut in the butter until mix is crumbly. Sprinkle over the apples.
• Bake 35 minutes or until top is golden brown.
• Cool slightly and serve with a quality vanilla or cinnamon ice cream.