Ingredients:

Skewers or sticks

8 to 10 medium crisp red apples such as Red Delicious, Winesap, Jonathan or McIntosh -- at room temperature

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup light corn or cane syrup

1 tsp beet juice

Few drops clove oil -- if desired

Note: For small children you can make apple smiles, core and cut apple into eigths, use small bamboo skewers.

Instructions:

1.   Grease cookie sheet generously.

2.  Wash and dry waxed apples thoroughly.

3.  Insert wooden skewer in stem end of each apple.

4.  Mix sugar, water, syrup and beet juice in 2-quart heavy saucepan.

5.  Heat to boiling over high heat; reduce heat.

6.  Boil gently, without stirring, to 290 on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water separates into threads that are hard but not brittle.

7.  Stir in clove oil.

8.  Dip apples quickly into syrup, twirling until completely coated.

9.  Stand on cookie sheet; cool.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:

1.  Mix sugar, water, syrup andbeet juice in 1  1/2-quart glass casserole.

2.  Microwave uncovered on high 19 to 23 minutes, stirring once after 5 minutes, to 290 on microwave candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water separates into threads that are hard but not brittle.

3.  Stir in clove oil.

4.  Dip apples quickly into syrup, continue as above.

5.  Pour any remaining syrup onto oiled cookie sheet.

6.  Cool; break into small pieces for a treat.