Baked Apples with Oatmeal and Brown Sugar

Recipe from O, The Oprah Magazine

1 lemon , cut in half
4 large red apples
3/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 teaspoons butter
1 cup oatmeal
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
Whipped cream , optional

Preheat oven to 375°. Squeeze juice from lemon halves into a large bowl with 2 cups cold water. Peel top third of each apple. With a small knife and working from the top of each apple, carefully carve out a large "bowl," including the core, about 2 inches in diameter, leaving the bottom of apple intact. Reserve all cut-away pieces. Place carved apples in lemon water. Chop cut-away apple pieces into small chunks, removing any core or seeds. Toss with 3 tablespoons honey and cinnamon; set aside.

Combine remaining 9 tablespoons honey with 1/2 cup hot water and stir until well blended. Stand apples, cut side up, in a 9" x 9" shallow baking dish. Place 1 teaspoon butter in bowl of each apple and pour honey and water mixture on top. Cover dish with foil and bake until tender, 25 to 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring 1 3/4 cups water and a pinch of salt to a boil. Add oatmeal and apple pieces, and stir until mixture returns to a boil; reduce heat and cover. Cook until tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Remove apples from oven and carefully fill with oatmeal mixture. Top with brown sugar. Place under the broiler 1 minute, just until light brown sugar is bubbly and dark brown. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.