Microwave baked apples and pears

1. Wash apples and remove the core. To ensure apples stand evenly cut a thin slice off the base of each. Slit the skin in a few places so that they will not break apart during cooking.

2. Fill the apple cavities with a mixture of the butter, brown sugar and dried fruit and place in a micro-safe container. Pour water around the apples, cover and micro-cook on maximum power for 8-10 minutes.
Allow to stand for 10 minutes before serving hot with custard or cool and chill to serve with cream.

3. Variations: - a. Replace sultanas with chopped glace cherries, almonds and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. b. Add a little grated orange or lemon rind to the filling mixture and use diluted fruit juice for the water. c. Drizzle a little sweet sherry down through the filling.

4. Baked Pears: Peel 4 pears carefully without removing the little stalk; place in the micro-safe dish and drizzle one of the following liquids over the tops. Cook as for apples, allowing 6-8 minutes.

5. Variations of liquids: a. Honey with sweet sherry; b. Marmalade with orange juice; c. Burgundy with sugar and cinnamon; d. Golden syrup with lemon juice.