Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Core the apples and peel the skin from the top third of each apple.

3. Arrange the 4 slices of bread in a single layer in a gratin dish and place an apple, peeled side up, in the center of each slice.

Place a sprig of mint in the hole in the center of each apple, then divide the butter among the apples, placing it on top of the mint in each hole.

4. In a small bowl, mix together the apricot preserves, grenadine and water. Pour the mixture over the apples and sprinkle them with the sugar and nuts.

5. Bake the apples in the 400-degree oven for 60 to 75 minutes or until the apples are very tender and nicely browned on top. Cool, garnish with the remaining mint sprig and serve lukewarm or at room temperature with the nuts and surrounding juices.

Yield: 4 servings.

Claudine.

NOTES : By Jacques Pepin from the book Jacques Pepins Kitchen: Encore with Claudine

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