Caramel Puff Corn

 My friend Linda Murray makes this and shares it often.  Katie makes a version of it that is really gooey and delicious.  If you don't want to get your hands sticky this version is for you.  

Caramel Puff Corn

20 c. puff corn

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

1 c. butter

1/2 c. light corn syrup

1 t. salt

1 T. vanilla

1 t. baking soda

Preheat oven to 200.

Place puff corn in a large roasting pan.  

Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt into a 3 qt. saucepan.  Cook of medium heat, stirring occasionally for 8 to 10 minutes or until it comes to a full boil.  Continue to cook stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.  

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and baking soda.  

Carefully pour over the puff corn.  Stir well and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Immediately pour out onto waxed paper.  Cool completely.  Break into bite-sized pieces.  Store in covered container.  

Hard Candy

Back in the old days,Lori Stiles and I would get together and make candy.  This recipe was from a Charlie Brown cookbook and it was called "Lucy's Lemon Lollipops".  Below is a picture of how we made them before the days of sucker molds.  The twins asked me if I could make some hard candy for Christmas this year.  So, I did some experimenting to come up with a microwave version so I didn't have to stand at the stove stirring for 20 to 30 minutes.  Here it is.....

Hard Candy

Mix together in a microwaveable 8 c. measuring bowl:

1/2 c. corn syrup

1 c. sugar 

Cover with plastic wrap microwave for 3 minutes on High.  Remove plastic wrap carefully.  

Stir quickly and cover with a new sheet of plastic wrap and microwave for 2 more minutes.  

Carefully remove the plastic wrap and stir in:

1/2 to 1 t. flavoring (lemon, orange, root beer extract)  If using flavored oil it only takes a small amount.

Pour into sprayed molds or onto a sprayed cookie sheet.  

Let cool and about 20 minutes and then remove from molds or break into pieces.  

Hints:

Have all your supplies ready before your start.

A sprayed wooden spoon works best for stirring.

I like to shake the candy pieces in a baggie with 1 to 2 T. powdered sugar. Shake off excess.  This keeps it from sticking together.  

Microwave cooking times may vary due to the wattage of your microwave (mine is 1000 watts).