The magic in this dish starts with butter and syrup bubbling in a skillet on the stovetop, then the poaching of fruit in the caramel until warmed through and softened.
Improvising in the kitchen on New Year’s Eve Day, I thought to substitute sliced apples for potatoes as an accompaniment to scrambled eggs, but also had a hankering for something slightly sweet. Four simple ingredients–eggs, apples, butter and pure maple syrup–proved a satisfying formula that may easily be adapted according to taste or circumstance.
Call it Apples Divine, for the result is heavenly, says the expression on the face of the squirrel who haunts the fence top in my backyard. He ate his slice greedily, stuffing his cheeks and dropping bits as though he couldn’t eat fast enough to ensure not a bite would escape him.
Apples Divine
One apple, sliced into bite sized pieces
2 tablespoons butter
1/8 cup pure maple syrup
Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add syrup and cook until mixture bubbles and turns to caramel. Carefully lay apple slices into the caramelized liquid and poach, turning occasionally, for ten minutes or so, until fruit is softened and warm all the way through.
Spoon apple slices onto dining plate and serve alone or alongside simple scrambled eggs. Spoon extra caramel sauce over fruit and hand plate to loved one. Wait for resulting moans of pleasure and delight. Apples divine.