Optional: a handful of oats, a sprinkle of nuts, a splash of vanilla—only if it feels right.
Instructions (Go Slowly)
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Let the quiet hum of it fill the space.
- Wash the apples.
Feel the cool skin under your hands. Notice their weight. Their imperfections.
(Grief, too, is uneven. That’s okay.)
- Core them gently.
Use a knife or spoon. Leave the base intact so they hold their shape.
(Some holes cannot be filled. But they can be held.)
- Place them in a baking dish.
Nestle them close if you’re making more than one.
Pour in warm water or herbal tea (chamomile, mint) to cover the bottom.
- Fill each center:
- A small piece of butter or a drizzle of oil
- A spoonful of honey
- A pinch of cinnamon
- Bake for 30–40 minutes.
Until tender when pierced, but not collapsed.
The kitchen will smell like childhood, like care, like hope.
- Serve warm.
Alone, or with someone who knows your silence.
No need to speak. Just eat.
