Nut-Filled Baked Apples

6 large baking apples
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts, pecans or blanched almonds
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Core apples; remove only about 1 1/2 inches of peel around stem end.  Arrange apples in shallow baking dish just large enough to hold them.

In a small bowl, mix nuts, brown sugar, butter and lemon zest. Spoon some of the mixture into each apple; pack lightly. Add water to the dish to a depth of about 1/4 inch.

Bake apples, uncovered, basting occasionally with liquid from bottom of dish, until tender when pierced with a fork - 40 to 45 minutes.

Serve hot or at room temperature.

Makes 6 servings.