What do you eat when you wake up cold and shivery?

We haven’t turned the heat on yet because it’s been about 70 degrees here and our house has been warm. But all of a sudden it’s really autumn, the outside temperature has dropped and it was freezing in our bedroom this morning.

I desperately wanted something warm to eat. But there wasn’t anything in the house!

Wish my Dad was around to make some of his renowned hot chocolate.

Mmm how about some quick biscuits? Hot oatmeal?

My thoughts actually turned to baked apple, warm and fragrant and sufficiently sweet for dessert, but breakfasty enough.

Unfortunately I didn’t have any baked apples.

Fortunately, I still have some of the apples I bought at Blue Jay Orchards (http://www.bluejayorchardsct.com/) in Bethel, Connecticut a while ago for my pie apples.

I’m making baked apples today, in case I wake up cold tomorrow.

Easy Baked Apples

• 4 large apples for baking
• half a lemon
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped nuts
• 1/4 cup maple syrup, agave or honey
• 1 cup orange juice or apple cider
• cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Remove the apple cores, leaving about 1/2-inch on the bottom. Peel the apples halfway down from the top, stem end. Rub the peeled flesh with the cut side of the lemon. Place the apples in a baking dish. In a small bowl, mix the raisins, nuts, one tablespoon of the sweetener and 3-4 tablespoons juice. Stuff this mixture into the apple hollows. Combine the remaining sweetener and juice and pour over the apples. Sprinkle the apples with cinnamon. Dot the apple tops with butter. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the apples are tender, basting occasionally with the pan juices. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes 4 servings

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