From Lynne Wilson
½ cup sugar
1 cup water
½ tsp. cinnamon (more if you like)
10 drops red food coloring or more
3 to 4 Cortland apples (about 1½ pounds)
Bring to a boil, sugar, water, cinnamon and 10 drops red food coloring (whatever you need to have pink apples) Reduce heat and let boil for about 5 minutes.
While syrup is boiling, peel, core and cut into quarters or sixths Cortland apples. Add apples to syrup and continue cooking until apples are almost tender (about 5 minutes).
Remove from heat. Apples will continue cooking in hot syrup. Serve warm or cold, in place of applesauce as a side dish or with cream or ice cream as dessert.