Baked Apples with Raisins and Walnut Filling

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Thompson seedless raisins
• 1/4 cup organic walnuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• 4 small organic Granny Smith apples
• 1/4 cup organic orange juice, freshly squeezed

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine the raisins, walnuts, brown sugar, and butter.
2. Core the apples, making each opening large enough to hold 1/4 of the raisin mixture.
3. Peel the top third of each apple, and fill the cavities with the raisin mixture.
4. Arrange the apples in a deep 2-quart microwave-safe baking dish so that they do not touch one another or the sides of the dish.
5. Pour the orange juice around the apples.
6. Microwave the apples, covered with microwave-safe plastic wrap, on high power (100%) for 7 minutes.
7. Pierce the plastic wrap with the tip of a sharp knife. Let the apples stand, covered, for 5 minutes, or until they are tender.
8. Instead of microwaving the apples, you can bake them in a 375 degrees F oven about 45 minutes.