Iraqi Apple Preserve - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 lbs apples
1 lemon, juice of
3 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup water
2 tablespoons rose water

Preparation

Peel, cut in half and core the apples and drop them in a bowl of water with 3/4 of the lemon juice to prevent them from browning.
Make a syrup by boiling the sugar and water with the remaining lemon juice, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes, or until very thick.
Drain the apples and drop them into the syrup.
Simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until tender and the syrup has become thick again.
Add the rose water and cook, stirring, for a moment more.
Lift out the apples and place them in a serving bowl or in jars. Pour the syrup over the apples.