The Long Hair Community

Lexy · December 29th, 2003, 05:50 PM

I read that Nutswmn does, but anyone else? That has been one of my passions for oh... 17 years now. I make fudge, pralines and a variety of caramels.

notjomama · December 29th, 2003, 06:34 PM

I don't make candy, but I'm very good at eating it.

Persephone · December 29th, 2003, 06:56 PM

I made pistachio fudge the other night for Xmas for my fiance's family. I am about to go downstairs tonight and make truffles for another one of my friends, and prolly sometime this week, I'm going to make peppermint bark for another friend. I love candymaking, especially if there's chocolate in it!

I'm really proud of myself for the fudge, because when I was younger, I didn't have the patience for it, and I did'nt let the sugar dissolve, and it ended up very gritty. This time my fudge came out smooooth.

I'd like to try my hand at sugared fruit and flowers soon, and also peanut brittle... what other kinds of candy are there to make? Oh, I also want to try cherry cordials! I think I could do that pretty well.

Lexy · December 29th, 2003, 07:22 PM

Peanut brittle is so great. It's easy and it tastes wonderful.

Is your fudge the soft kind? I make fudge that is called "old fashioned" in my cookbook and no one else has ever heard of it. It gets pretty hard after it cools. Usually fudge has jet puff or something in it I guess, to keep it squishy

. Pistachio fudge sounds really good. My Dad always wants fudge with salted peanuts in it.

Persephone · December 29th, 2003, 07:58 PM

Yeah, I think it's the soft kind... I didn't know there were other kinds. I don't know what jet puff is, but my fudge was condensed milk (which I tasted a bit of off the lid of for nutswmn...

) sugar, butter, and chocolate. I like the flavor the condensed milk gave it.

E. · December 29th, 2003, 11:26 PM

I love making candies, pralines, caramels too. Usually my christmas present for my grandparents are some self- made pralines :-)

Heidi · December 30th, 2003, 06:22 AM

You're making me hungry here!

I don't make candy per se, but I'm really good at pouring chocolate into moulds

I just ordered a mermaid mould and a book mould from ebay and I've got a huge hunk of Vahlrona orange milk chocolate waiting to go in them. It's nothing like what you folks do, but it makes fun gifts.

Lexy · December 30th, 2003, 06:52 AM

E.- traditionally at Christmas and for their birthdays I make my Mom pralines and my Dad fudge.

I think I'm gonna have to stop reading this thread! I thought I was sick of candy after Christmas, but now... :P

E. · December 30th, 2003, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexy

I think I'm gonna have to stop reading this thread! I thought I was sick of candy after Christmas, but now... :P

Dulci · December 30th, 2003, 12:15 PM

I wish I could make Divinity like my grandmother. I tried to make it a few times, it never comes out like hers.

Lexy · December 30th, 2003, 12:38 PM

Divinity is really dependent upon temperature and humidity. Could that be what's wrong?

I've never actually made it, but I watched my Mom a lot when I was little. Seemed like it worked about 50% of the time.

Dulci · December 30th, 2003, 12:44 PM

Yeah, she told me not to try making it on a humid day or it wouldn't set up. I also used a candy thermometer, but she used a cup of water to check the hard ball stage, and I'm thinking her test was probably more accurate...

She used to make me a batch with NO nuts.

Lexy · December 30th, 2003, 12:52 PM

I used the water test for years, and then I finally got a candy thermometer. I was so excited, but I don't think it works as well. I've gone back to using my trusty teacup.

Besides, the water test means I get to eat the extra

Grenwich · January 1st, 2004, 01:52 PM

I make truffles, fudge, peanut brittle, chocolate cups with liquor in them too, but couldn't find the recipe again for this Christmas....

Quote:

I used the water test for years, and then I finally got a candy thermometer. I was so excited, but I don't think it works as well. I've gone back to using my trusty teacup.

Besides, the water test means I get to eat the extra

LOL! I use the water test - I have a thermometer, but it never seems to fit the pan I'm trying to use.

Gren

**LisaJaney** · January 1st, 2004, 02:09 PM

My two batches of divinity yielded me a 50% success ratio. One batch was heavenly; the second batch was....well, like soft salt-water taffy. I pulled it and just ate it that way. Must've been the humidity.

I have a candy thermometer, but it takes so LONG to get it up to temp. I get a softball WAY before the THERMOMETER says it's hot enough. The few times I've made fudge with the thermometer, it's not turned out right; the syrup was cooked too long. Maybe I oughtta use a stem thermometer rather than the candy one. But I, like Lexy and the others, prefer to eat the little globs at the bottom of the teacup of cold water. The BEST is the syrups made with milk. Yummmmmmmy! I haven't made fudge this holiday season. Maybe I need to. Gren, wanna make some really crappy divinity with me?