Community Chat

[bikerbabe]

I never liked hard candies. Still don’t, generally speaking. I’ve been in the camp that unless it’s chocolate, it’s not worth my time. 🤣

[Carmie]

@Kachina624   Now you're talking...I love those chocolate filled straws.  I buy them when I see them.

I don't know how they make them, but if I did, I would make them too.

[Tori3569]

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@Carmie wrote:

I have a discount grocery store where I live.  They offer all types of grains, sugars and candy in small plastic bags sold by weight.

They always have hard candy all year around.  If I have any in the house, my grandson fills his pockets.  I have already given him a bag or two, but my son does not want him eating all of that sugar.  Grandson is 16.

I make all sorts of candy at Christmas time...including hard candy and clear toy candy.  It is just sugar or corn syrup and water, a pinch of baking soda ( if you want the candy to be clear and not opaque) and flavoring for hard candy, but no flavoring for clear toy candy.

I have lots of candy molds, but sometimes I  just pour the mixture on a flat baking sheet and break it into pieces when cool.( I do that when I have extra and don't have more empty molds.  It sets up fast and hardens and I don't want it cooling in my pan.  It's difficult to get out if it does.

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Oh Carmie, I always love the things you cook and bake!  I have always had a thing for those clear toy lollipops / candy .  I didn't realize they were relatively easy to make.  I'm going to look into it.  Thanks for bringing that up! 

[Carmie]

@Tori3569   They are super easy to make.  You just need a candy thermometer.

If you don't have molds, just pour on a baking sheet and crack into small pieces.

Be sure to use metal/cast iron molds, plastic ones are for chocolate only and will melt.

[qualitygal]

@LizzieInSRQ   He ordered some just yesterday.  Thanks.  He's in his glory now, LOL.  

I loved reading all these stories.  So glad candies can bring back such wonderful memories and so easy.

[Silhouettes shadow]

Thank you for the memories....My grandma always made over a dozen different type of candies, all prepared on a wood cook stove, not to mention all the different types of cookies. Just dated myself a bit with the wood cook stove.

What we've been doing for the past 20 years is decorate our tree with all types of wrapped candies, small packages of various nuts & fruits, individually wrapped cookies and bars, hang assorted cocoa packets, tea and fruit juice packets.  Also get the small individual cereal boxes or foil packets and put them on the tree. There's just tons throughout the whole tree, even individually wrapped pepperoni sticks. Oh, and also the small individual packages of different types of chips. I always check and make sure that I also have gluten free items for those that are intollerant. We have small silver clip on candle holders and put  3" straight candy canes in them to look like candles, and place memorable christmas ornaments our kids & grandchildren have given us throughout the years on the tree. I always have extra of what's on the tree set aside, but everyone who comes to the house knows that there more than welcome to take anything off the tree they want to eat.  THEY LOVE IT!!!  We had no idea it would be as welcome and fun for them & everyone as it is. It's something they look forward to every year. Those little extra tiny silver bag clips are perfect to hand things on the tree with. Just thought I'd pass this along incase anyone might be thinking, "what can I do different with the tree this year".  That's how it started for us. Silly plus is that when they leave to go back home several days after Christmas, they take the trimmings with them. 

May you all "Be Blessed"