Mom's candy III

I really intended to post this sooner, better late than never though!

Mom's Caramels

2 cups of white sugar
3/4 cup dark Karo syrup
1/2 cup butter
2 cups of half and half
1/2 cup nuts
1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine sugar syrup and butter and 1 cup half and half. Bring to a boil, add remaining half and half stir constantly. Let boil until it clings in cold water or 240 degrees. Put chopped nuts in bottom of pan. Pour mixture on top of nuts. Cut while still warm and wrap individual pieces in wax paper. Share with family and friends! Enjoy!!

Tomorrow, Friday December 18th is my baby's birthday! She is going to be 23, I can't believe it. How exactly did that happen??? Be well... Tj.

Mom's candy II

Ok, this one is for Margie. My friend Carolee's mom. She was a dear friend to my mom, and has been a great surrogate mother to me. Love you Margie!

Here is Rita's Marshmallows!

2 envelopes of Knox gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup boiling water
2/1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
walnuts, ground approx two cups

Boil sugar in 3/4 cup water until it spins in a thread when dropped from a spoon. 250 degrees
Remove from fire, soften gelatin in cold water and add to hot syrup. Stir until dissolved. Let stand until partially cold. Add salt and vanilla. Beat until think and fluffy and cool. Pour in pan sprinkled with ground walnuts and cover top of mixture with nuts. Place in refrigerator until set. Cut into squares and roll in ground nuts.

This was my favorite, I loved the marshmallows! I could not find a photo of anything that looked close to the yummy goodness my mom made!! But I did find this photo that has marshmallow in nuts right at the front, but also has other tasty coverings, chocolate, coconut, peppermint and ?? I guess you can use your imagination! Enjoy! Tj.

Mom's candy

This time of year brings back wonderful memories of spending time in the kitchen making candy with my mom. She always made plates of home made candies and cookies to give to family and friends. So, I thought instead of making plates of goodies, (really... I just don't have that skill anyway), I thought I would share the recipes with you, maybe one of my friends or family have the required skills! Hey if you make some, let me know how it comes out ok?

Rita's Divinity

2 egg whites
3 cups sugar
3/4 cups white Karo corn Syrup
3/4 cups water
1/2 Tsp baking powder
pinch of cream of tarter
1 tsp vanilla
nuts if desired (pecans or walnuts)

In pot on medium heat, stir the sugar, syrup and water, baking powder and cream of tarter stir until sugar is dissolved and bring to a hard boil. Test after about 10 minutes, when syrup forms a hard ball when dropped in cold water. Beat the egg whites until really stiff. Slowly add the sugar mix to the egg whites, beat at high speed. Add 1 tsp vanilla and nuts if desired. Spoon divinity on wax paper, I remember using 2 spoons, one to scoop one to push the sticky divinity off the spoon. You have to work quickly as the divinity hardens quick. Oh, and my mom used to add food coloring to make them different colors, pink... green... blue. Not my photo, I hope no one minds! Enjoy!!