Mela al Forno (baked apples)

Ingredients:

• 6 apples
• 5 tbsp. Unsalted butter, chilled
• 6 small cinnamon sticks
• 4 oz. Pistachio or pine nuts
• 3 tbsp. Brown sugar
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 3/4 cup grappa

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375° f.
2. Remove the core from the apples.
3. Place apples in a baking dish.
4. Divide the butter into 6 portions and push it into the cores of the apples.
5. Push a cinnamon stick into the middle of each apple and scatter with the nuts, sugar, and raisins.
6. Finally pour over the grappa.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes, basting the apples occasionally with the juices in the dish until they are soft and tested with a skewer.