Among our wintertime dessert favorites are baked apples. If you appreciate the depth of flavor and richness of carob, we hope you'll find this unique treatment of baked apples as pleasing as we do.

1. Combine rice milk, cloves, cinnamon, carob powder, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a 9" x 13" (23 x 32 cm) pyrex baking dish. Stir well to combine. These ingredients will become the sauce to accompany the finished apples.

2. Wash and core the apples. Put them into the baking dish and stuff cavities with raisins. Sprinkle any remaining raisins around the bottom of the baking dish. Spoon some of the sauce over the cavities. Cover with aluminum foil, shiny side down, and bake at 325 F. (Gas Mark 3) for 1 hour. If apples are very large, they may need 15 to 20 minutes longer. Serve warm or chilled in bowls along with some of the tangy sauce. Serves 6.