Spanish Baked Apples

Step 1: Wash the apples and remove the cores and place them into a buttered shallow ovenproof dish.

Step 2: Sprinkle the apples with a little sugar (reserving the rest of the sugar for later) and add a knob of butter to the center of each apple.

Step 3: Pour some white wine over each of them and bake in a moderate oven (180C, 350F) for about 10 minutes, until almost tender.

Step 4: In the meantime whisk the egg whites with the rest of the sugar, adding the anise drop by drop, until the whites form stiff peaks.

Step 5: Take the apples from the oven and spread a little apricot jam on each apple; top with a good spoonful of the egg white and sprinkle with a little more sugar and place the apple back into the oven to bake for another 10 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the meringue is slightly brown on top.

Step 6: Serve with cream or ice cream if desired.