I know fall isn't hear yet, but I'm from upstate NY where the farmers markets are going strong and apples are plenty all over the state! So inspired by a bowl full of uneaten apples I decided to make a delicious apple bake for breakfast.
Preheat to 350
Apples, (how many apples you use should equal the number of people you are feeding)
1 to 2 tbs Cinnamon
1 to 2 tbs brown sugar
1 to 2 tbs wheat germ
water
3 to 4 tbs butter
Ricotta cheese mix:
This too depends on how many you serve, This amount will serve two or three people:
1 c. low fat Ricotta cheese
1/4 tsp almond extract (replace it with 1/2 tsp vanilla if you like)
1 tbs pure maple syrup, if you need more add it, but don't let the mixture get soupy
wash and slice as many apples as you have guests. core and slice fairly thin, leaving the skin on.
place apples in pan how ever you want, fill the pan about 1/4 the way with some water, a little less if you have really sweet, ripe apples.
Sprinkle the cinnamon and brown sugar over the top, slice thin pats of butter and spread over the top. It doesn't have to be perfect it is just going to melt into the water anyway.
Bake for about 15 minutes, remove from heat to stir. To avoid a mess I like to use two forks and toss it like a salad.
Bake another ten minutes, stir one more time, then raise temp to 400. Sprinkle the wheat germ over the top, do not mix it in. Bake for about another 5 or 10 minutes until it looks crisp.
Remove.
I like to use ramekins to serve this dish. I spoon in the ricotta cheese mix half way up the dish, then the apples over top, then I spoon some of the juice over that. Let your guests mix up the apples and the cheese and dig in. It is a wonderful way to start the day, or end it as a desert. This dish is healthy, not very fattening and full of flavor. If you don't like ricotta, then just leave it out, the apples alone are delicious!
Enjoy!
