SHRUNKEN HEADS IN APPLE CIDER

Another great idea for a Halloween party!

I have to confess:

1. I didn't do the whole recipe as you can see. Why? I'm only doing it for you now for an idea and I'm afraid I'd have to waste a lot of it because Ryan, Canaan & I aren't going to drink two gallons of cider in 2 days. 

2. Canaan's taking a nap and I wanted to hurry and finish this for you before he wakes up so I'm sorry I didn't actually "shrink" the heads in the oven. A short cut that I know will get me into trouble if I don't tell you now. If you were to put them in the oven as I've state below, it will make the heads so much more "shrinky" and "gross." I recommend it when you don't have a 2 year old you're afraid of after he wakes up from a nap.

SHRUNKEN HEADS IN APPLE CIDER

2 C lemon juice

2 T salt

8 large granny smith apples

32 whole cloves

2 gallons apple cider

2 (12oz) cans frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Mix lemon juice and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

Peel off skin of the apple, along with some of the core on either side.

Carve a face into one side.

Place in lemon/salt mix for 1-2 minutes. About the time it will take you to make another "head."

Transfer to paper towel to drain.

Then to greased baking sheet, face up.

Repeat with all apples.

Bake 90 minutes.

Combine apple cider and lemonade about 30 minutes before the apples in the oven are done into a large stock pot.

Press cloves in eye sockets then into the cider they go.

TIP: If they don't float face up, take them out and on the opposite side of the face, spoon out some apple until  it does float face up.