Rock Candy Food

ROCK CANDY

Steps:

• In a medium-size heavy saucepan combine sugar, water, light corn syrup and salt, and Stir until sugar dissolves.
• Cover pan and bring to a rolling boil.
• Remove lid and insert a candy thermomater and cook until temperature reaches 250 degrees F.
• Add food coloring, stirring with metal spoon until thoroughly mixed.
• Continue cooking until the temperature reaches hard crack, or 300 degrees F.
• Remove pan from heat and let it cool about 3 minutes, then add flavoring oil, and mix it very well.
• Cover the pan and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
• Pour the candy into greased molds (for lollypops) or a marble slab or into a greased shallow pan.
• As soon as it is cool enough to handle, cut into squares with scissors or roll into balls or shapes.
• Or, another option is to let the candy cool completely, then break the candy into bite-sized pieces with a cleaned hammer or the blunt end of a butter knife.

ROCK CANDY

Steps:

• Punch holes at the top edge of a thin 8-inch square pan so that you will be able to lace 7 strings from one side of the pan to the other. Place the laced pan in a pan deep enough to catch any leaking syrup.
• Dissolve 2 1/2 cups of sugar in 1 cup water and cook without stirring to the hard-ball stage, 247 degrees to 252 degrees. Pour the syrup into the laced pan. It should reach a level about 3/4-inch above the strings. Cover the surface with a piece of foil.
• Watch and wait. The syrup may take as long as a week to crystallize.
• Lift out the laced pan. Cut the strings and dislodge the rock candy. Rinse quickly under cold water and put on racks to dry in a very low-temperature oven.

ROCK CANDY

Steps:

• Prepare your candy growing area by thoroughly cleaning and drying a 2 quart jar. You will need a place for it to rest undisturbed for about 2 weeks.
• In a large bowl, place the water. Dissolve sugar in water, a little at a time, stirring each time until sugar is completely dissolved, until no more sugar can be incorporated. Pour sugar water into clean jar and place a bamboo skewer in the jar, being sure the top sticks out over the surface of the water. Cover with a cloth, to keep out dust, and let rest until all water is evaporated and crystals have formed on the skewer, several days.
• NOTE: For larger crystals, try "seeding" them, by wetting your skewer and rolling it in sugar before placing it in the sugar water. Be sure not to disturb the crystals as they are growing.

ROCK CANDY

Steps:

• * Candy flavoring is carried by a lot of grocery stores, near the baking aisle with candy-making and cake decorating supplies.
• Bring the water to a boil in the saucepan.
• Remove from heat; add 3 cups of sugar, stirring until dissolved.
• Slowly add the remaining sugar, reheating the water if necessary.
• When all the sugar is dissolved, pour the mixture into 3 heat proof jars or glasses.
• Stir 3 drops of liquid food coloring and 1/2 teaspooon candy flavoring into each jar.
• Tie each length of string around a pencil.
• Lay one string on top of each jar so the strings hang down into the liquid.
• Crystals will begin to form in 1 hour, and continue to solidify for several days.
• If a layer forms on the surface of the jar, break it.
• When liquid completely evaporates, candy is ready.