Baked Apples

2 cups apple cider ¼ tsp. cinnamon 
4 dried apricots Freshly ground nutmeg 
3 tbs. raisins 1 banana 
6 apples 1 tsp. vanilla extract 
¼ cup Grape -Nuts cereal 2 tbs. maple syrup 
3 tbs. brown sugar 1 tsp. cornstarch 
1 tbs. rum (optional) 

1. Warm cider in saucepan. Remove pan from heat and add apricots and raisins. Let soften for 20 minutes. 
2. Meanwhile, core apples, but don’t cut all the way through to the bottom. The idea is to create a cavity for stuffing. Preheat oven to 350’F. 
3. Drain apricots and raisins, reserving cider. 
4. Combine apricots, raisins, Grape-Nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl and crumble with your fingers. 
5. Finely chop banana. Stir banana and vanilla extract in crumb mixture. 
6. Stuff filling into the apples. 
7. Make a few small holes in each filling with a pour in maple syrup. 
8. Place apples in baking dish. Pour in enough drained cider to cover bottom inch of apples. Reserve any excess cider. Bake apples for 1 hour, or until soft. If filling starts to get too brown, cover apples with piece of foil. 
9. Transfer apples to shallow bowls. 
10. This step is optional-Strain the pan juices and reserved cider into a small saucepan and bring to boil. Dissolve cornstarch in rum. Whisk this mixture into pan juices and bring to boil. Pour sauce over apples and serve at once. 

Serves 6 

Per serving: 
Calories 216 Fat 0.7 g Carbohydrate 53 g Sodium 49 mg