Dried Apple and Nut Garland

Great gift idea! Use this attractive garland to adorn your mantel, to wind around your buffet or dinner table or to weave through a staircase banister.

Makes 1 garland

3 bright-red apples
Lemon juice
Wire rack
Spray varnish, if desired
Glue gun and glue sticks
1 pound mixed nuts, in shells
12 cinnamon sticks, 3 1/2 inches
20 whole bay leaves
Purchased evergreen garland, 6 feet long

1. Heat oven to 200 degrees F.

2. 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.

3. Remove wire racks from oven. Let apples stand about 2 hours or until completely dry. Place dried apples on waxed paper. Coat each side with 2 light coats of spray varnish, following manufacturer's directions for spraying and drying.

4. Glue dried apples, nuts, cinnamon and bay leaves to garland. Let dry.

Did You Know...
Rome apples have a very pretty red skin and white flesh that are particularly nice for this garland, though other types of apples are also attractive.

Simplify
Visit your local craft store for dried fruit, flowers or holly and make similarly attractive garland without baking.

Purchasing
You'll want the prettiest, shiniest, most colorful apples possible. Select only the best from your supermarket's produce bins.

Special Touch
Add even more color to this holiday handicraft by attaching small bows of red and gold velvet ribbon. Or hang a few small Christmas ornaments from the garland.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Betty Crocker 2007/TM General Mills