One dank morning this week, the kids and I popped into Bouley Bakery for croissants and coffee. While we were there a new offering caught my eye. There were cinnamon sugar apples, arranged in the French style, half moons, this way then that. Sort of the tarte tatin without the puff pastry.
Lately, since there will be a new class of two year olds in my kitchen in a couple of weeks, I have been thinking about simple snacks to make with them, things that they can take to school, make especially for their classmates when it is their turn to bring a snack, things they can be proud to have helped with, not just a little, but a lot. That’s why these apples drew me in. Since we had already ordered, I am sad to say that I did not get to try them, but they got me thinking.
At home this morning, we tossed local Ginger Gold apples that I had cut up on the mandoline in honey, lemon juice, and a healthy dose of cinnamon. We arranged them artfully but rustically and baked them. Our apartment smells like Fall, that heady mixture of apples and cinnamon melding together.
It is Jewish New Year today, and being in New York, so many people are celebrating with apples and with honey, sweetness for the year ahead. I say amen to that! We all need a little sweetness, don’t we? (And, next year, could someone please teach this shiksa to make a honey cake?)
Honeyed Baked Apple Stacks
*1 lb. apples (choose a good baking apple such as Granny Smith, Ginger Gold, etc.)
*1/4 c. honey
*the juice of one lemon
*1 1/2 t. cinnamon
Big Person: Peel and core the apples. Slice them 1/4-inch thick, making “O” slices. If you do not have a mandoline, slice them with a knife. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F.
Together: Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
Whisk all your ingredients together and throw in the apples. Have your mini-chef gently swirl the apple slices in the liquid.
Make stack on the parchment lined baking sheet. You can top with a little circle of apple if you like, or even a little leaf or apple you cut out of the sliced apple.
Big Person: Slide into the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the apple is soft and starting to dry out slightly.
