Christmas Candy

Since Justin is allergic to food coloring, dairy, and soy most Christmas confections are inedible for him. But I recently found and ordered some natural food coloring that is made from vegetable dyes. We have already made gingerbread cookies with colored icing. Tonight's adventure was homemade candy canes! Justin decided on pink and yellow for the colors. It was a family effort. Dave (the chemist) manned the stove until the sugar mix was the correct temperature. Betsy was prepared with the marble slab and oiled pans. Justin was the photographer. Until it cooled off enough and he begged to try pulling the candy, too. Then we all got in on the fun! And it really was lots of fun. We were all laughing with delight as we pulled and stretched and twisted and folded the cooling candy again and again. We have definitely found a new family tradition!

They may look a little funny (ok, a lot funny...there is a pretty steep learning curve to the shaping part) but they taste divine! What a treat. Thank goodness for Justin's allergies!

Pouring out the yellow half of the hot sugar syrup

Mixing and cooling until it's cooled off enough to handle

Protected by a double layer of gloves, the pulling begins!

Justin got in on the fun of candy-pulling

Dave and Justin pulling candy together

Dave twisting and shaping

Betsy shaping the canes along with Justin

The finished candy canes in all of their homely glory!