Christmas Candy

I think making Christmas candy is one of the best traditions our family has. It has passed from generation to generation, picking up new recipes along the way. Some of my favorites include:

Bessie Thorpe’s Fudge
Double Decker Fudge
Peanut Butter Cups
English Toffee
Caramels
But today, I needed to come up with something really fast. I needed something with color to fill in a space next to the fudge, so I whipped up Cinnamon Hard Tack Clear Candy. It’s the easiest of all the candies to make. Here’s a tutorial, if you care to try it.

Mix all together in a heavy pan: 3 1/2 cups sugar, 1 cup Karo Syrup, 1 cup water, stir to mix and then don't stir it again.  Bring to a boil and cook until it reaches the hard crack stage (300 degrees).  Use a candy thermometer.

While waiting for this to happen, spread tin foil on a cookie tin.

When the mixture reaches the hard crack stage, remove from heat and gently stir in 1 tsp. cinnamin oil and several drops of red food coloring--more or less depending on the color of red you want.

Pour the entire mixture evenly onto the cookie tin and let cool completely.

 Then sprinkle powdered sugar over it with a sieve.

Now take the heavy end of a table knife or a hammer and crack the cooled candy into pieces.



I love this nativity set my sister, Kathy, gave me years ago.

 Other ideas for flavors and colors: green, licorice; blue, anise

Thanksgiving 2011 Remembered -- a Pictorial

Here are some random pictures of our 2011 Thanksgiving.  I think the only picture I didn't get was one of our annual talent show, but trust me, it was great with singing, violin, piano, and summersaults--to name a few of the talents. Of course, there was the feast and the traditional free-throw basketball contest.  I love Thanksgiving and this year was extra special as our grandson, Trey, made a quick trip home  from BYU to be part of the tradition. 

The gang's all here



Claire and Lydia enjoy eating at their own little table



Fruit salad--a favorite of cousins Emma and Sydney



The kids' table

 

The women.....and girls

 

Trey takes his turn to try to win the free-throw contest



The men's free-throw challengers - - It's tradition



Grandma Thorpe's Recipe for rolls - yum!

Lori's Etsy Shop Give Away and November Roses

Lori has a great give away from her Etsy Shop, and I’m trying to enter every way I can for a better chance at winning, but you can do the same.  Click here or below to enter and see what a great selection the winner gets to choose from.

http://ammeandneb.blogspot.com/ 

I meant to post these pictures while it was still November, but somehow November slipped away from me. Don’t you just love having roses in November? Mine bloomed right up to the very end of the month and still have a bloom or two---even with freezing temps in the night and snow right around the corner.

Tennessee November Roses - Picture taken the end of November, 2011