Homemade Cough Drops Food

HOMEMADE HONEY LEMON COUGH DROPS

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a small pot.
• Heat the pot slightly over medium heat and melt the ingredients together.
• The honey mixture will start to bubble, remove from heat and whisk until bubbles/foam recedes slightly. Replace on heat.
• Do this for 2.5-3 minutes, whisking every 15 seconds or so. You want the mixture to get HOT but not to outright burn.
• The mixture will start to change color (dark honey color).
• After three minutes-ish, pour the mixture into silicone molds but do not fill them all the way. You want the drops to be very small and thin.
• Let cool on the counter for twenty minutes then place in the freezer to set.
• Pop the disks out when you need them. They are chilled and soothing but they're also sticky once melted (almond-like a taffy) so try not to chew them too much!
• Makes 8 drops depending on mold.

HOMEMADE COUGH DROPS

Steps:

• Brew a strong tea - use either prepackaged tea, or your own blend of herbs, you'll want to make a strong brew. Two cups of water to four tea bags works well. You can, of course, divide that in half. Steep the herbs/tea in boiling water for 15 minutes.
• Prepare Candy Mold - If you have a candy mold, use that. Give them a quick spray of cooking oil.
• If you don't, powdered sugar or cornstarch will make a substitute. Pour powdered sugar into a pie pan about 1/2" thick, maybe a bit more, flattening it out with your hand, then using the bottom of a food coloring bottle, make indentations. These indentations are your mold.
• Make Candy - The ratio for the candy is 1 part liquid to 1 part sugar. Use other sweeteners besides sugar if you want, but they may require different cooking times. Add the appropriate amount of sugar to your brewed/steeped tea and heat over medium-high. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Bring to a boil and do NOT stir again. Carefully wipe away any crystals forming on the sides of the pan with a damp brush or cloth. When candy is at 300 degrees on a candy thermometer, remove from the heat. Add in any food coloring or flavorings if you want. Stir.
• Mold Candy - Pour your mixture into your prepared molds. Allow to set until firm. If it's humid or rainy outside, this may take longer. Putting them in the fridge will help. To remove them from the mold, stir them around in the powdered sugar and sift away excess. Keep in a sealed container or wrap in cellophane or waxed paper.

OLD FASHIONED HOREHOUND COUGH DROPS

Steps:

• Boil the horehound leaves in the 2 cups water for 10 minutes; discard leaves.
• Add twice as much honey as the remaining liquid and stir the mixture smooth.
• Then blend 2 cups of sugar with 1/8 tsp.
• of cream of tartar in a saucepan, and add the honey-horehound mixture.
• Stir over medium heat until sugar melts.
• Then lower flame and continue stirring till a dollop of the candy forms a hard ball when dropped in cold water.
• At that point, pour syrup into buttered baking dish and cut into small squares as candy begins to harden.
• Finally, roll in confectioners sugar and then granulated sugar and store in airtight containers.