Pechenie Yabloki - Russian Baked Apples

Pechenie Yabloki - Russian Baked Apples
Categories: Fruit, Russian, Ethnic, Rus, Slavic, Dessert, Euro
Yield: 8 servings

8 ea Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples
Lemon juice as required
8 tb Butter melted divided
1 c Walnuts minced
1 c Raisins
2 tb rum
8 tb Honey
Ground cinnamon to taste
1/2 ts Allspice
1/2 ts Nutmeg

Soak raisins in rum for 15-20 m ins.
Pre-heat oven to 425 deg-F.
Use a casserole dish that will hold apples snuggly.
Coat casserole lightly with cooking spray.

Filling:
Combine 6 tb melted butter with toasted walnuts, drained raisins, honey, cinnamon & other spices.
Set aside.
Peel apples then rub them lightly with lemon juice.
Slice off top portion of apples then core them.
Leave apples intact at bottom to ensure filling will not run out.
Place them in the prepared casserole dish.
Divide filling among all 8 apples.
Rub exterior of apples with 2 tb melted butter.
Place 1/3 cup water in the bottom of casseroler dish.
Bake for 20 mins. until apples are soft.
Serve with pan juices whipped cream or ice cream.

ORIGIN: Dr. Raisa Vorokina, Murmansk-Russia, circa 1999