Baked Apples

Baked Apples
Makes 4 servings

4 large baking apples (we used Winter Banana, but you could also use
pinova (aka pinata) or Granny Smith)

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup golden raisins

2 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup boiling water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wash apples. Using an apple corer,
remove cores to 1/2 inch of the bottom of the apples. If you don't
have an apple corer, use a paring knife to cut out first the stem
area, and then the core. Use a spoon or melon ball tool to dig out
the seeds. Make the holes about 3/4 inch wide.

In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, pecans and raisins.
Place apples in an 8-inch-square baking pan. Stuff each apple with
this mixture. Top with a dot of butter (1 1/2 teaspoons each).

Add the boiling water to the baking pan. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until
tender, but not mushy. Remove from the oven and baste the apples
several times with the pan juices as the fruit cools.