CTeenConnection

By: Danielle Collins

Rosh Hashanah is almost here!  As I was contemplating ideas for my first recipe, only one combination kept popping into my mind—apples and honey.

I wanted to play with the idea of apples and honey to create a deliciously healthy dessert that would satisfy both your sweet tooth and your Jewish soul on Rosh Hashanah.  Immediately, I thought of baked apples, one of my favorite fruit desserts, with an added twist—honey sauce.

What I also love about apples and honey are their health benefits.  Apples are high in fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants.  I kept the skin on in my recipe to retain the majority of the nutrients.  Honey has been known to relieve allergy symptoms and may reduce the risk of certain cancers.

So, have a good hamisha meal with the family on Rosh Hashanah.  Pray, laugh, and sing together.  Embrace the year of coming together.  And, do not forget to indulge in a little extra sweetness together.

Wishing you all the happiest and healthiest New Year!

Festive Baked Apples with a Warm, Honey Drizzle

The traditional pairing of apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah represents sweetness, a symbol of hope that G-d will provide us with a sweet year to come and a reminder of our love for G-d.

Ingredients (Baked Apples)

4 large apples (use baking apples such as Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious or Pink Ladies)

1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

1/4 cup nuts, chopped (optional)

2 Tablespoons raisins, chopped

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon honey

1 Tablespoon butter, softened at room temperature*

3/4 cup hot water

Ingredients (Drizzle)

1/2 15 ounce can full-fat, unsweetened coconut milk

1/4 cup honey

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon butter or coconut oil, softened at room temperature*

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

*Note: If using butter (dairy), ensure that the product follows Cholov Yisroel

Method

1.) Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).  Wash the apples and then dry them completely.  Core the apples using a corer or a sharp knife.  The diameter of the hole should be about an inch.  Make sure that about 1/2 inch of apple is left at the bottom of the hole to support the filling.

2.) Stir the oats, nuts (optional), raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl.  Add in the honey and softened butter and mix until thoroughly combined.  Transfer the apples to an oven-proof baking dish.  Place a scoop of filling into the hole of each apple.

3.) Pour the hot water into the baking dish. Bake at 350°F (190°C) for 40-55 minutes.

4.) As the apples bake, begin the Honey-Coconut sauce.  Open the can of coconut and pour the contents, both liquid and solid, into a microwave-safe bowl.  If there are hard clumps of coconut, microwave the coconut milk until warm enough to whisk.  Whisk until the coconut milk is uniformly smooth.  Store 1/2 the coconut milk in the fridge and pour the rest into a saucepan.  Add the honey, salt, and butter or coconut oil to the saucepan and whisk until combined.  Bring the mixture to a boil on high heat.

5.) Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15-25 minutes.  The longer the sauce simmers the thicker it becomes, so simmer only until the desired consistency is reached.  Stir every few minutes and then whisk frequently after 12-15 minutes to prevent the sauce from burning.

6.) Once the sauce is thick enough, turn off the stove and add the vanilla.  Move the saucepan to an unused burner.  Stir every few minutes until the apples are done baking.

7.) Remove the apples from the oven.  Make sure that the apples are tender but have texture.  You can poke one apple with a knife to check for doneness; the knife should be able to easily pierce through the apple but with a little resistance.

8.) Drizzle the honey sauce over the warm apples.  Enjoy!