Almost-Fat-Free Cider-Flavored Baked Apples

4 large organic apples (about 2 pounds), cored

½

cup granulated sugar

¾

teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼

teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup apple cider (organic, unfiltered preferred)

Set an oven rack in the middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Place cored apples in 9-inch pie pan, or 8-inch-square baking pan. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, stir sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg together, then sprinkle over and inside apple cavities. Pour cider in pan only up to ½

inch of the pan's side.

Bake apples, basting every 15 minutes, for 45-55 minutes or until tender (they should easily pierce with a toothpick or thin-bladed knife). Take care not to over-bake as their skins will split and they'll lose their shape. Serve warm.

Serves four.

Cook's notes: Use a small melon baller to scoop out the core, taking care not to go all the way through the apple to the blossom end. Serve with a small scoop of low-fat vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt to make this a very special dessert.

Nutrition values per serving: 230 calories (2.8 percent from fat), 1.4 g fat (0.1 g saturated), 60.3 g carbohydrate, 5.1 g fiber, trace amount protein, 0 cholesterol, 4 mg sodium.