Freezable Fall/Winter Breakfast

Every year as I start to pull out my sweaters and and thick, fuzzy socks, my appetite starts to wander toward warm, comfort breakfasts.  Baked apples are one of my all-time favorite foods - suitable for dessert, snack or yes, even breakfast.  Paired with some whole grain toast, yogurt or topped with some crunchy cereal, they are a cozy, satisfying way to incorporate fruit into your cold-weather morning routine.  But who wants to get up and make baked apples before work or school? The solution is simple - bake ahead and freeze in individual containers that can be microwaved for 1-2 minutes and viola! a sumptuous and nutritious breakfast addition is at the ready.  Even better is that making them is simple enough to be a non-recipe.  Here it is:

 Baked Apples: a non-recipe

Cut apples in half and use a melon-baller to remove core.  

(You could use a knife, but a melon baller is so much easier.)

Place apples cut-side up in a baking dish.  

In the hollowed out center of each apple, place a small (about 1/4-1/2 tsp) piece of butter.

Sprinkle lightly with brown sugar.

Sprinkle generously with cinnamon.

Add about 1/2 - 3/4 cup water to the baking dish.  

(I pour this in a corner so it doesn't wash the yumminess out of the apples).

Bake @ 350 for 1 hour.  

Divide up into single-sized serving containers (one or two halves depending on apple size) and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for 2-3 months.

To reheat: 

Microwave on high 1 minute if refrigerated, 2 minutes if frozen.

It truly is a great way to start the morning, or it makes for a wonderful after-school snack for kiddos after a cold walk home from school.  Plus you are getting all the wonderful fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and heart-health benefits in a tasty package.  After all, you know what they say about an apple a day!