Baked Apples

Russians are known to wax poetic at the mere mention of apples. Their favorite is the antonovka, a winter apple and the theme of Ivan Bunin’s story “Antonov Apples.” His narrative opens on a hot September day, when the air is heavy with the fragrance of ripening apples. This autumnal smell evokes memories of bygone days on the estates of the Russian landed gentry, whose country houses were imbued with the smell of Antonov apples. Those who knew and loved the country life maintained that “if the apples are good, the year will be, too.” Here are two simple recipes for baked apples, both catering to the Russian sweet tooth.