Apples with amaretti filling

After a busy weekend, Monday came, like always. My supplies were down to two eggs, various cheeses, a couple of onions and three apples. My motivation was still in bed. I did manage to make a lentil/tomato soup, just to be a good mommy. But my appetite was calling for something else. I didn't know what but it had to be sweet. Mondays are hard enough, dessert is recommended. And I don't mean a piece of chocolate. That wouldn't do: too little too fast. I mean something to treat yourself without any afterthoughts involved. Pure pleasure. Pure like apples.

As I was making the soup for lunch, my Italian show was on. I was too tired already to pay any attention. I just glanced at the wrap-up of the program. Happy pears with chocolate, stuffed with amaretti cookies, grabbed my attention. It had to be a quick recipe, 30 minutes or under. That's how much time the cooks have to prepare a two- or three-course meal. And that's how much time I wanted to spend on preparing anything today.

I used apples instead of pears. The dessert is beautiful and delicious. The apples are delicate and tender. The amaretti filling brings a nice game of texture and taste to the fruit. And melted chocolate...makes you forget it's Monday.

Recipe seen on La Prova del Cuoco
time: 15 minutes

ingredients

• 3 apples
• about 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cup amaretti cookies
• 100 g (3.5 oz) dark chocolate, chopped in pieces

instructions

1. Peel apples. Don't cut them. Using a special tool (short knife will also do), core apples (not all the way through) starting from the opposite side of the stem, leaving the stem intact. 
2. In a medium size pot, bring about 2 quarts (2 liters) water to boil. Add sugar. Cook apples for about 5 minutes, on medium/high, till just tender (check it with a fork). Cooking time depends on the apple type. Using a slotted spoon, drain apples and remove from the pot. Set them aside. Save the cooking water.
3. Melt chocolate pieces over a pot of hot water. Bring water to boil and take if off the heat. Keep mixing chocolate till smooth, for about 5 minutes.
4. In a medium bowl, crush cookies with your fingers (put two on the side for later). Add about 2 Tablespoons of water from cooking apples. Using a fork, moisten the crumbs.
5. With a small spoon, stuff apples with amaretti filling. Spread melted chocolate on individual plates. Place apples on top, drip chocolate on the fruit and sprinkle with a couple of crushed, dry cookies. Good Monday!