Baking with the ultimate fall fruit

Who can resist the smell that marks the beginning of fall — baking apples?

There are thousands of different kinds of apples, one of the most popular of all fruits. With plenty of plant nutrients (phytonutrients), fiber and vitamin C, apples are far from a “forbidden fruit” and make a great choice for fruit-based desserts.

For easy baked apples, peel and core 4 apples, place in a baking pan with about ½ cup of water and bake at 350° F for 40 minutes or until soft. If you want to get fancy, fill the apples with chopped nuts or raisins, a teaspoon of butter, a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, and a pinch of spice like cinnamon or nutmeg.