Baked Apples

My mom was the first to discover these baked apples and I am so glad she did. She made them for Christmas Eve dinner one year and both of us have made them numerous time since. They have the perfect texture, the apples are cooked but not mushy and the cornbread stuffing has a great mix of flavors. The last time we made them was for my Grandfather's birthday earlier this year and they went over very well. We cut them into quarters but you can cut them in half or leave them whole. They also taste great, leftover the next day, warm or cold.

Baked Apples
From The Food Network

Ingredients:
8 Gala or Golden Delicious apples
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 or 2 large corn muffins, crumbled (about 1/2 cup), reserve some for sprinkling on apples
1/2 cup golden raisins
6 sage leaves, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup hard cider
1 tbsp lemon juice

Directions:
Core the apples with an apple corer, making a good size cavity to hold the stuffing. Rub the cut sides of the apples with some of the lemon juice to prevent them from browning while you make the stuffing.

In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, muffin crumbs, raisins, sage, garlic, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Spoon the stuffing into the cavities of the cored apples. stand them up side by side in a baking dish and sprinkle the tops with the reserved muffin crumbs. Pour the cider around the apples and bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 375 degrees F until soft when pierced with a knife.

Place the warm apples, cut or uncut, into a serving dish. Spoon the cider sauce around the apples and serve.