Twice Baked Lady Apples With Brie, Raisins and Dates

From Mindy Segal's Hot Chocolate restaurant. YUM sounding. It is a light lunch, salad or dessert. i will sub dried cranberries for the raisins.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 6  small  lady apples, lady (or any petit apple)
• 1  cup apple cider
• 1⁄2 cup light brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup golden raisin
• 1⁄4 cup brandy
• 4  ounces  brie cheese, diced
• 1  cup dates, chopped divided
•  kosher  salt and pepper

• Vinaigrette

• 2  shallots, minced
• 1⁄2 cup sherry wine vinegar
• 1  teaspoon grainy mustard
• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 3  heads Belgian endive, julienned

Directions

1. To prepare apples:
2. Heat oven to 350°F Cut a small slice from top of each apple. Scoop out core. Place in baking pan. Spoon cider and brown sugar over apples. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, soak raisins in brandy. When apples are tender, combine drained raisins, cheese and ½ cup of the dates in small bowl. Fill centers of apples with cheese mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
3. To prepare vinaigrette:
4. In small saucepan, cook remaining ½ cup dates with ½ cup water until dates are soft and pureed. In blender or food processor, combine the cooked dates, shallots, sherry vinegar and mustard. Blend until smooth. While blender is running, slowly pour in oil. Blend until thick and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Final preparation: Serve each apple with some of the endive. Drizzle vinaigrette over the endive.