Hi folks. Well that was a mouthful. And what a delightful mouthful it was. Now these little beauties do not photograph well at all. So I apologize for that. I assure you the taste is out of this world and will make up for the lack of photogenic beauty. The colour just does not pop after cooking all day. So luckily the taste pops. I used Granny Smith apples in the hopes they would stand up well. I also thought the taste of the Grannies would be enhanced wonderfully with the sugar, fruit and nuts. Turned out to be a lovely combination and I have to admit I may have scarfed mine quicker than I could shoot the photos. So this is my version of the baked apple. Kimified with dried cherries as you know I love them. I was lucky to get any pecans in there as I was popping them in my mouth faster than I could chop them. Hope you enjoy. Before we get to them though I wanted to share some finds from my market trip this week. The farmers markets may be closed here but we have a lovely gourmet year round store that is stocked to the gills with yummy goods. Enjoy!
I scored some real treats this week. I love this little store so much. It's just got some of the coolest items I don't see elsewhere. Living in a small town is a real challenge culinary wise. It's hard to find good quality items. Luckily the trip to the city is done often as it's only about 20 minutes from us.
Okay so now on to baked apples. Hope you enjoy these and make your own. You can add just about anything to them which is always fun. Nothing says fall like apples. I'll be sad when winter and snow arrive. Time to go buy a lottery ticket so I can make my coveted move to Hawaii! Warmth, I want warmth people! Sun, surf, half naked men.... oops, sorry that just slipped out. I meant sun, surf and sand. Yah, really I did.
Ugly but Tasty Baked Apples with Pretty Pecans and Cheery Cherries:
Ingredients:
4 Granny Smith Apples
4 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
â…“ cup pecans, chopped
â…“ cup dried cherries, chopped
Cinnamon to taste
Nutmeg to taste
Lemon juice, about 1 tablespoon, used to keep apple from browning
Directions:
Core apple almost to the bottom, but not quite. You want to leave a little so the stuff you put inside stays inside.
Cut around the top so you have a smallish open to pack your sugar mixture in later.
Brush the part of the apple you have cored and cut with lemon juice.
Chop you pecans and cherries. I find putting the nuts in a small ziploc and whacking it lightly with a rolling pin effective and plus it's just great fun to get your aggression out.
Now in a bowl mix your sugar, pecans, dried cherries, nutmeg and cinnamon (sorry Ann!).
Place the butter in the microwave for a few seconds to melt it.
Now add the butter to the bowl with the sugar and mix it all up really well. It will smell absolutely amazing. Do not be tempted to eat it. It will give you a tummy ache, trust me!!!
Now place your apples in your slow cooker. Obviously with the cut side up. (you never know, someone might do it backwards by mistake, lol)
Now scoop the sugar mixture into the holes in the apples.
Take about ⅓ to ½ cup of water and pour it into the bottom of the slow cooker.
Place lid on and turn on low heat setting for about 4ish hours.
Make sure it's plugged in, trust me this is important!
Wander off and read my blog for about 4ish hours then go back to your slow cooker.
Remove and serve with a Lunatic smile!
I like to scoop out the juice on the bottom and pour it over the apples. Yummy goodness!
Here's a little tutorial on how to eat a baked apple:
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| Take one ugly apple... |
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| Slice into it.... |
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| Watch the pretty juices flow out.... |
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| Pace yourself, no one likes a piggie... |
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| Take a deep breath..... |
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| And dive right in.... |
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| See...ugly but good! |
Okay folks that wraps up another Slow Cooker Saturday. I already have a wonderful recipe picked out for next week. Get your forks ready folks. You'll need them.
Toodles and smoochies.xx
Torviewtoronto
yummy lovely pictures looks wonderful
Curry and Comfort
I love all food finds!! What beautiful pictures. Your baked apple looks absolutely delicious. I bet you liked taking the step by step pictures as you ate it. Mmmmmm!
Dzoli
Baked apple ..I make them often and with different stuffing.Those of yours are so yummy:)And you have stocked up on some great stuff;)
Rosemary
I wish I had a source like you have so close! I live in the "boonies" and have a l-o-n-g trip to the city for such goodies! I'd love to score me some Dubliner! And I love Better than Bouillon. I'm sure I'd love the ugly baked apples, too!
**CREATIVE CARMELINA**
saw your cannoli icon on bluebird notes' blog and could not resist, as an Italian, clicking on over here to visit you!
I'm your newest fan! Stop by to visit with me too, if you've the time!
ciao bella
Creative Carmelina
Anne@frommysweetheart
Actually...I think these apples look beautiful! Especially the pictures where you are cutting into them. And the fact that you bake them in a slow cooker is so appealing. Looks like you had a great haul at your little store this week too! (And I love the new look of your blog!)
healthyfoodietravels
Sounds delicious! And baked apples never are pretty, unless they come wrapped in dough. 🙂
Other than that, I may or may not be currently planning to steal all your cheese.
Lindsey@Lindselicious
Those look good, I love that you made it in your slow cooker! And what are you doing with all that cheese? Ooooh is it fondue in the crockpot?! I cant wait to see. =)
Ann
I gotta say, Kim...those look delicious! The peel may no longer be bright green - but it looks incredible! I like the dried cherries - nice twist on the classic!
Mother Rimmy
My mom used to make baked apples all the time. I'd completely forgotten how delicious they are!
Christine's Pantry
Looks good.
firefoodie
Ugly but really really tasty I bet (and not even that ugly really). I'm a food shopaholic and envious of your purchases! 🙂
Elyse @The Cultural Dish
Your baked apple looks delicious! Not ugly 🙂 I love baked apples and the flavors are so yummy.. I can smell your apples from here! 🙂
Tina
If the recipe doesn't win anybody over, the pictures sure will do it! Lovely and delicious creation-well done Kim. As far as the pecan munching, you are not alone in that. Have a great day.
Grubarazzi
These are not ugly! How dare you talk about these cute little apples like that. They look delicious. To me, brown food is good food. nom nom.
Emily Malloy
Wow! Wow! And more wow!
Nami | Just One Cookbook
Oh how funny - I thought these apples look great! I have never eaten apple this way and don't know how it is supposed to look, but this does look delicious to me! I like you wrote "score!" everywhere on the cheese! lol!!!
Nicole
Are we looking at the same apples here? They look wonderful to me! I'd eat them in a heartbeat.
Sandra
I could use a baked apples with pecans and cherries right about now. I'd also love to shop where you shop!
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family
The pictures look fantastic, and I wish that I could just dive right in.