
This time of the year, in the heart of the U.S. Midwest, a visit or two to the apple orchard is always in order. My grandparents operated a wonderful peach and apple orchard in southern Illinois (Berthold Orchard) so I grew up with strong opinions about varietals. My favorite apple is the Jonathon and this has never changed. I use either Jonathons or Granny Smiths for this recipe, because they have the perfect texture and tartness. I leave the skin on because this is where the good stuff is and I think it adds flavor & a little "al dente" to the dish. My family likes things a little light on the cinnamon but you can safely double the amount of cinnamon in this recipe if you think you'd like a heavier cinnamon taste. Jonathons are the perfect eating apple so be sure to pop a slice into your mouth while you're baking. Drink some orchard apple cider for the full effect.