The Longaberger's Baked Apples

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"Fourth of July celebrations and Ohio-made Longaberger baskets have long gone hand-in-hand, a pairing rooted in the Longaberger family's rich picnicking tradition.

'Every Sunday we would visit my grandparents at their farm, and when the weather was particularly nice, they would take me and my sister Rachel on a picnic,' says Tami Longaberger, CEO and president of The Longaberger Co. 'We would lay out the blanket and set up our food on a beautiful hillside overlooking the little town of Dresden and the Muskingum River. In reality, it was a small hill. But as a child, I felt like I was on a huge mountain overlooking a big town.'

The Longaberger family began making hand-crafted baskets in Dresden, Ohio (pop. 1,436) more than a century ago, and the company was founded by Tami's father, Dave Longaberger, in 1973. Since then, it has become a world-renowned producer of handcrafted baskets, pottery and other products. Many of Longaberger's products, from picnic baskets to lidded 'gathering baskets,' are ideal for outside meals.

Longaberger's favorite childhood picnic foods were the basics: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and cookies, accompanied by lemonade or iced tea. As an adult, she still prefers simple, classic picnic fare.

'I'm all about sandwiches, good breads and cheese,' Longaberger says. 'I might throw in some antipasto and olives. Picnics can also be a time for all the family favorites to come out. My late Grandma Bonnie was a wonderful cook, and she was well known for her incredible pies and cookies. She passed that love on to us. Something about the Longaberger baked goods, you just can't pass them up.'

Picnics, Longaberger says, are a chance to slow down, relax and unwind.

'There's no such thing as a fast-food picnic,' Longaberger says. 'There is nothing better than spending a little time sharing a picnic meal with someone you care about. A picnic is a simple pleasure that can add real joy to your life.'"

For more information about Longaberger baskets, visit www.longaberger.com















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  • 6

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3 large baking apples, such as Rome Beauty or MacIntosh
  • 1/2 cup golden raisins
  • 3 tbsp butter, divided into 6 pieces
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 3 cinnamon sticks

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 F

Combine sugar, flour and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl.

Cut each apple in half then core each half. Place apple halves skin-side down in a 2-quart baking dish. Fill each apple half with a few raisins. Divide cinnamon mixture equally among apple halves. Top each with a small piece of butter. Pour 1/3 cup water into the bottom of pan and place the cinnamon sticks in the pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until apples are tender.

Tip from our test kitchen: Use a melon baller to core the apple halves.

Nutrition Information:
Per serving
200 calories
6 g fat
1 g protein
40 g carbohydrates
3 g fiber
45 mg sodium

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