Baked Apples a La Gratissimum

Ingredients	Quantity
Golden delicious apples	4
Maple syrup	½ cup
Basil – finely chopped	1 tbsp
Ground cinnamon	½ tsp
Lemon zest	¼ tsp
Butter	1 tbsp
Apple juice	1 cup

Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare the apple. With a melon baller core each apple, taking care not to cut through to blossom end. With a sharp knife score evenly around each apple 1/8 inch deep about one third of the way down form the stem end. Place apples in a Pyrex baking dish or pie pan and pour in water to reach 1/2 inch up the side of pan. In medium bowl, whisk together maple syrup, East Indian basil, cinnamon, and lemon zest.

Pour equal amount of mixture into cavity of each apple. Dot each apple with butter. Bake apple, basting them ever 10 minutes with apple juice until they are tender when pierced with a skewer, about 40 minutes. Place apple on 4 small dessert plates or bowls and serve immediately.