Recipe for Candy

I found a great recipe that I don't want to lose! Making candy corn from Homemade Desserts.




Homemade Candy Corn Recipe
This Halloween treat recipe is adapted from a recipe that's been based on the original and has been widely published.

1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup (2-1/2 oz) butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups powdered icing sugar
1/3 cup powdered milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
Red and yellow food coloring

In a large saucepan combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, and butter. Bring to a boil over high heat while stirring constantly, then reduce heat to medium and continue boiling for 5 minutes while stirring occasionally. Remove mixture from heat and add vanilla extract.

Combine the icing sugar, powdered milk, and salt in a separate bowl and add to the mixture in the saucepan, mixing thoroughly. Allow the dough mixture to sit until it's cool enough to handle.

Divide the dough into 3 equal parts and place each part in a small mixing bowl. Add orange food coloring to one part (a combination of yellow and red) and yellow food coloring to another part, leaving the remaining part uncolored or white.

Knead the dough in each bowl until smooth and stiff enough to hold its shape, and the colors are even. Wearing plastic gloves can help prevent your hands from being stained by the food coloring.

Still using your hands, roll each part into a long, thin rope, making each rope of equal length. You may need to use a long countertop or tabletop covered with a strip of waxed paper for this. You'll also need to be careful when rolling as the ropes can easily break if you form them too thin.

When you're done, lay the three ropes of dough along side each other with the orange dough in the middle and carefully press them together to make a long, narrow rectangle. A gentle, light rolling with a rolling pin along the length of the rectangle helps to press the rope edges together, but be careful not to flatten the dough so the rectangle stays as narrow as possible, plus you'll also want the kernels plump looking and not flat.

Finally, cut the dough into triangles or "kernels" using a sharp knife and gently shape the kernels with your fingers, if needed. Allow the kernels to sit for a while and become firm.

You'll end up with over a pound of homemade candy corn, some with yellow tips and some with the traditional white tips. There's no getting around it, kneading the dough and forming the ropes IS time-consuming, hard work, but the results are worth it.

Traditionally, each piece of Halloween Candy Corn is about the size of a kernel of dried corn, but yours made with this homemade candy corn recipe will be about the size of today's giant candy corn.

Holiday Candy Corn Colors
Halloween Candy Corn is traditionally colored with a white tip, orange center, and yellow base. However, over the years, different colors were added for different holidays:

* Indian Corn for Fall and Thanksgiving is colored with a white tip, orange center, and brown base, with chocolate flavoring added to the brown.

* Reindeer Corn for Christmas is colored with a white tip, green center, and red base.

* Cupid Corn for Valentines Day is colored with a white tip, pink center, and red base.

* Bunny Corn for Easter is colored with a white tip and pastel shades of pink, purple, yellow, or green for the center and base.

You can even make candy that you can shape into different decorations like pumpkins...

Could the cure to H1N1 be in our kitchen or yard?

With the winter months coming it has been all over the news and radio that the CDC thinks we will have a new wave of H1N1 outbreaks. It has also been reported that they also think there as many deaths from the vaccine then the flu. And the side effects: neurological diseases particularly Guillain-Barre syndrome. Not something I want to do. I'm not pregnant, over 65 or have a immune disorder. Really don't need the vaccine. I also heard many stories on how cinnamon and other herbs can cure the flu. Many sites that are trying to sell herb supplements. I think it's more than the cinnamon bark.......... Or the thieves oil. Save your money it might just be in your own kitchen or yard.
Nostradamus, 1503-1566 the famous doctor and prophet that survived the black plague also cured many others with what was called rose petal pills. He ran a perfumery that meant using natural petals like rose petals and herbs to make the scents in his day. But he noticed that his workers didn't get the plague. Then there is the famous 4 thieves vinegar. The story goes that there was 4 thieves in France that were robbing the dead during the plague and many of the doctors where shocked to see that not one of them had became infected. They asked how they protect themselves. They told them of a wine that they drank each meal.
This is where it gets fuzzy. Because there are many different recipes. First I heard it was vinegar or wine. Now there is a doctor that is marketing a oil that he named Thieves Oil after this legend. And there is no garlic added. Yes many say the reason it works is the garlic makes people stay away from you!!
4 Thieves Vinegar (or Wine)

1 clove of garlic crushed and minced

equal parts:
thyme
peppermint
rosemary
sage
lavender

Place in red wine or in a clean bottle. Cover with apple cider vinegar. Many recipes online will say just say vinegar. But I think it depends on your area. For in areas that have many wineries that wine would be easy to get. While other areas cider was easier to find.
Leave out for 6 weeks and shake everyday. After the six weeks is up strain the herbs. You can drink with meals if brave. I have used this vinegar as a cleaner.

There also is many different recipes for Thieves Oil. One thing they do have in common is that the garlic isn't included.

Thieves Oil

equal amounts of cinnamon bark, lemon oil and eucalyptus
equal amounts of: cinnamon bark, lemon, eucalyptus, clove, and rosemary

So not to different on ingredients but both are placed in a clean jar or bottle and covered with a base oil. This could be extra virgin olive oil, almond oil or walnut oil. Do not use basic vegetable oil or canola oil they will turn rancid. I know from experience that my olive oil that was a mix of vegetable oil and olive didn't last long. But this is left out for 6 weeks and shaken everyday. After the six weeks is up strain the herbs.

There is medical studies proving that cinnamon bark can kill common and hospital-acquired infections. A study of surgeons have proven this. In 2008 the French researchers found this fact to be true also.

Studies also show that lemon juice is antibacterial and antiseptic, and a effective insect repellent. Straight vinegar kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses). Even lavender and thyme are more antiseptic than phenol, the stuff in common household cleaners! Research shows that antibacterial plant oils may not cause drug resistance germs. Even rose petal have antiseptic properties. It is regarded as a mild sedative and anti-depressant which can reduce the stresses in our lives. In this day and age we all can use that. Wow that why our men bring us roses to say they are sorry... Giggles...

I love the smell of lemon, cinnamon, lavender, rose and peppermint that I could have many different vinegar cleaning products. Or Apple Cider and cinnamon for cleaning. Lemon vinegar for the bathroom and kitchen. Lavender and rose for the bedrooms. My daughter would love a wintergreen and peppermint cleaner.
How about the Thieves Oil for cooking. That lemon oil for lemon pepper chicken. With sage, thyme and other herbs that are good for Italian dishes and could also help fight infections.

Keep in mind this will not as all things keep you from getting sick. Like echinacea it doesn't keep you from getting a cold or flu it helps your body fight the germs. I really think the truth is that we need to eat more healthy and wash our hands like our doctors. Washing for 20 seconds. That good old warm water and soap do the job but a little help from nature to kill the nasty viruses doesn't hurt. Sing in your head or out loud to help your little ones The ABC song.

homemade craft supplies

Slime

Make a 50% water 50% white glue solution. Take 1/4 cup of each and mix thoroughly

Add 1 tsp. Borax to 1/2 cup of warm water. Stir until completely dissolved.

add the borax and water to the glue solution.

Add a couple drops of food coloring.
knead mixture together

If slime is too sticky, add a little more borax. If slime is too slippery, add a little more white glue solution. (50% glue/50% water)

Basic Play Dough:

Ingredients:

* 1 cup flour
* 1/4 cup salt
* 1 cup warm water
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
* 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
* Add drops of food coloring
* For natural color, use beet, spinach, grape, blueberry or carrot juice

Directions:

Mix flour, salt and oil, and slowly add the water.
Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until dough becomes stiff.
Let cool for five minutes. Place dough onto wax paper until cool.
Knead until the dough is the proper consistency.
Divide and add drops of coloring to each ball, and knead until the color is distributed.
Add vanilla, peppermint, lemon or almond extract to the dough for a better smell.
Vitamin E oil to help protect against bacteria forming.

Can bake your little one masterpieces i the oven at 350 for 20 or until hardened. Let cool completely.

My favorite for keeping a masterpiece is:

Salt dough

4 Parts Flour & 1 Part Salt
Water (enough to make dough stiff )
Mix items together. Shape or roll and cut dough into shapes. When rolling out, do not roll thinner than ¼ inch – any thinner will break when dried. Paint can be added to dough and with glitter. Poke a hole at the top for a ribbon or string for hanging. Bake in a 225 degree oven for several hours and leave the ornaments in the oven to dry overnight. Can be painted/glittered after dry also

And for holiday ornaments I like:

Cinnamon Ornaments

1 Cup of Regular Applesauce (not the chunky variety)
1 Cups of Ground Cinnamon
1/4 cup of ground allspice
1/4 cup of ground nutmeg
1/3 Cup of White Glue

Mix all items together. Chill for 30 minutes or more to stiffen dough. Shape or roll and cut dough into shapes. When rolling out, don't roll thinner than ¼ inch, because it may crumble and break. Use more cinnamon instead of flour to keep from sticking. Poke a hole at the top for a ribbon or string for hanging. Place the shapes on a cooling rack and dry for about two days. The color is a deep brown when the dough is wet, will lighten when dry. .