Ingredients
3
bright-red small apples (such as Rome Beauty or Red Rome)
Lemon juice or lemon-lime soda pop
Wire racks
Waxed paper
Spray varnish, if desired
Hot-glue gun with glue sticks
About 1 pound mixed nuts in shells
12
cinnamon sticks, 3 1/2 inches long (about 1 1/2 one-ounce jars)
20
whole bay leaves (about one 0.18-ounce jar)
Purchased garland, about 6 feet long
Preparation
Heat oven to 200°. Cut apples lengthwise from stem end through core into 1/4-inch slices. Dip apples into lemon juice to prevent browning; place on wire racks. Carefully place wire racks on oven rack. Bake 3 1/2 hours. Turn off oven; leave apples in oven 8 hours or overnight.
Remove wire racks from oven. Place dried apples on waxed paper. Coat each side with 2 light coats of spray varnish, following manufacturer’s directions. Glue dried apples, nuts, cinnamon and bay leaves to garland, using glue gun. Let dry.
