Baked Apples

Make a syrup with 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water, 3 whole cloves, a 2" piece of cinnamon stick and 8-10 coriander seeds. Dip each apple into the boiling syrup for 3 minutes, then lift to a baking pan. Put a few raisins in each cavity, then 1 teaspoon brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon butter. Bake at 350 F for about 35 minutes or until the apples are soft, but not mushy or broken. Then set under a broiler for a few seconds to brown the tops. Cool. (Now here is where you can change from the recipe. You can either serve them hot, cool, or freeze.) Place the whole uncovered tray in the freezer until the apples are frozen solid. Next day, place the apples in containers or wrap individually in foil. Label and freeze. To serve, remove the required number of apples from the container or unfold the foil from the top of foil-wrapped apples, but leave the foil around the base. Allow them to thaw at room temperature for about 1 hour. If you prefer to serve them hot, place frozen apples in their foil bases on a baking pan and heat at 425 F for about 30 minutes or until apples are soft.