Candy Canes!?!

[clairabelle]

OK, so I'm a huuuge of candy canes, and they kinda bust the budget. My friend E-mailed this to me, and it'll be a big lifesaver this holiday season. I was so excited, I couldn't keep this to myself, so I'm sharing it with you all.

YOU'LL NEED:

• 1 Candy Thermometer
  
• 2 cups sugar
  
• ^1/2 cup light corn syrup
  
• ^1/2 cup water
  
• ^1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  
• ^3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  
• 1 teaspoon red food coloring
  
• 2 large, heavy bottomed sauce pans
  
• 1 mixing spoon
  
• 3 cookie sheets
  
• PAM or other greasing item
  
• butter
  
• 1 spatula
  
• friend or family member to help (not necessary)
  

WHAT TO DO:

• Step 1:
  Take a large, heavy bottomed sauce pan out of your cupboards and add the sugar, corn syrup, water and the cream of tartar and mix them very well. Be sure to completely stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved.
  
  
• Step 2:
  Using a candy thermometer inserted into the mixture, cook the mixture without stirring until the candy thermometer reaches 265 degrees Fahrenheit.
  
  
• Step 3:
  Take the mixture away from the heat and drop in the peppermint extract. Get out another pan and take half of the mixture and place it into the second pan. Mix in the red food coloring to one of the mixtures.
  
  
• Step 4:
  Allow the candy to cool. While you are waiting grease 3 cookie sheets.
  
  
• Step 5:
  Put some butter on your hands and a spatula. Use the spatula that you have buttered to cut off a portion of one of the clear taffy. Enlist a friend or family to help you and have that person do the same thing with the red taffy after they have greased their own hands.
  
  
• Step 6:
  Pull and fold the pieces repeatedly on your cookie sheet until they appear glossy, then roll them into an 18 inch long coil.
  
  
• Step 7:
  Twist the head of the cane before setting it aside to cool on the third greased cookie sheet.
  

Now you have your candy canes! Happy? Well, you should be!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
with love,
Harley/Clairabelle