Baked Apples Stuffed with Dates and Walnuts

Baked Apples Stuffed with Dates and Walnuts
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
An old-time favorite! The tops of the apples are cut off before coring and used as a lid.

4 large, tart cooking apples
1/2 cup chopped dates
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1A cup tightly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
Heavy cream or Vanilla Cream Sauce

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Cut off the tops of the apples about one-quarter of the way down;
reserve tops with stems intact. Remove cores, being careful not to cut
all the way through the bottoms. With a spoon, widen the center
cores. Score each apple all around the middle with the tip of a paring
knife to prevent wrinkling and sinking while baking. Combine the
dates, walnuts, and cinnamon. Stuff the centers of the apples with the
mixture, and replace the tops. Place apples in a shallow baking dish
and pour 1/3 cup water into the dish. Sprinkle each apple with brown
sugar and top with a little piece of butter. Bake 35 to 45 minutes, or
until apples are cooked.
Serve warm with cream or Vanilla Cream Sauce.