CHOCOLATE COVERED APPLES FOR SUKKOT

Today is the beginning of Sukkot, one of the most joyful holidays in the Jewish calendar. Sukkot is the Fall harvest festival, a time of giving thanks for abundance. The Hebrew word Sukkot means 'booths' or 'huts.' People erect sukkoth, small, temporary booths or huts (open to the sky) in which one entertains, eats, and sometimes sleeps. The holiday lasts 8 days. 

One of the fall fruits that might be in your sukkah would be apples.  And, since this is a chocolate blog, how about Chocolate Covered Apples? What could be better? Tart apples enrobed in a covering of sweet dark chocolate, and maybe an extra coating of crunchy chopped nuts! Oh yes!

So in celebration of Sukkot (you can also bookmark this recipe for Halloween), here is a recipe for Chocolate Covered Apples. Enjoy!

Chocolate Covered Apples

Ingredients
6 firm Gravenstein Apples (or medium sized Fuji or Granny Smith)
6 sturdy lollipop/popsicle sticks
10 ounces Dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup nuts, chopped coursely (optional.. but great for additional crunch and texture)*
Waxed paper

Directions
Twist off stems of apples, and insert sticks into apple cores.
Place apples in refrigerator while preparing chocolate.
Melt chocolate in double boiler or saucepan over saucepan (I use a metal bowl over simmering water for this recipe, so it's easy to dip and roll the apple in the same bowl)
Dip apple into melted chocolate, allowing excess to drip back into bowl. Roll around in chocolate, turning with stick, until entire apple (or 3/4 way up) is coated.
Optional: Put Nuts into separate bowl and roll apple until completely covered in nuts.
Place chocolate/nut coated apples on cookie sheet lined with wax paper, standing upright.
Refrigerate 25 minutes or until chocolate is set.