APPLE ROSES

Apple Roses image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Yield Makes 9

Number Of Ingredients 4

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, plus 1 lemon, halved (2 to 3 lemons total)
2 cup sugar
3 golden apples, such as Golden Delicious
2 red apples, such as Gala, McIntosh, or Red Delicious

Steps:

Bring 4 cups water, the lemon juice, and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat; cover. Cut a round of parchment paper that has a diameter 1 inch greater than that of pan; set aside.
Core apples. Peel golden ones; using 1 lemon half, rub flesh. Squeeze juice from remaining half into hollows of red apples.
Using a mandoline or sharp knife, cut all apples crosswise into thin (less than 1/8 inch) slices. Transfer to syrup; shake pan to coat slices. Place parchment directly onto surface of apple mixture. Let syrup cool completely, about 40 minutes.
Cut slices into semicircles. Stack 1 red apple slice on top of 1 golden slice, with cut edges nearest you. Wrap slices together into a cone shape to form a "bud."
Stack two more slices. Placing them slightly above base (to create a staggered appearance), wrap them around bud. Repeat, wrapping until rose is about 2 inches in diameter. Make 9 roses total. Reserve leftover peeled slices for garnish.