Books and Articles by David Jones

Caramel corn makes a great treat for Halloween parties. This tasty treat includes three types of nuts and it’s bound to please your little goblins and ghosts and anyone else who likes the rich flavor and crunch of caramel corn. ©Wagner / Adobe Stock Nutty Caramel Corn Preparation time: 20 to 30 minutes plus 20 to 30 minutes for coolingYield: 8 servingsIngredients: 10 cups popped popcorn 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar 1/2 dark brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup corn syrup 1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup raw whole almonds 1/2 cup whole raw cashews 3/4 raw pecan halves 2 teaspoons salt 2 teaspoons baking soda Instructions: Rinse a large stainless steel bowl with hot water and dry well (this heats the bowl).

As a candy-maker, you need specific tools and utensils. Some, like measuring cups and spoons, you probably already have and use; others, like a candy thermometer and a marble slab, don’t see much service unless you’re making candy. Keep the following tools on hand for your candy-making efforts: Baking pans Me

You need some special utensils and skills for candy making, as well as some special (and yummy) ingredients. After you learn how to temper chocolate (people eating chocolate are generally in a good temper, but that’s not the same thing), you can take off and start giving your candy as gifts — and you probably have some friends who’d be happy to help eat your mistakes, too!

The joy of biting into a piece of candy with that rich caramel flavor is such a pleasure. How many people have gone through a box of chocolates, biting pieces trying to find that caramel center? Maybe the solution to that problem is to buy a box with nothing but caramels. Perhaps an even better solution would be to make your own caramels.

When you get really good at candy making, you can give gifts of your special candies. Be assured that everyone on your gift list will eat them right up. The gift ideas in the following list can help you get started creating unique gifts from your kitchen: Make an attractive gift basket using shredded plastic “grass” and a variety of your beautiful homemade candies.

Before you start getting ready to make candy, you need to check your cupboards for some essential ingredients. If you’re going to make candy regularly, put the basic ingredients from the following list on your candy-making shopping list so that you have everything you need when you’re in the candy-making mood: Sugars: granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, and confectioners’ sugar Sweeteners: corn syrup and honey Dairy products: unsalted butter, heavy cream, whipping cream, half and half, and whole milk Nuts: pecan halves, whole and sliced almonds, English walnuts, raw and roasted Spanish peanuts, cashews, and macadamias Chocolates: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, unsweetened chocolate, and cocoa If you have the storage space, you can keep a few specialty items around as well: invertase, powdered egg whites (called “egg albumen”), flavorings, and food colorings.

If you’re making candy, chocolate is pretty much a staple ingredient. It’s often the finishing coat for a collection of other sweet treats that you dip into it. The process for getting chocolate to the proper consistency for dipping is called tempering, and the following steps show you how to temper chocolate by hand: Place a block of chocolate on a cutting board and, using a heavy knife, shave it into small pieces.

Homemade pumpkin caramels may sound unusual, but they marry two flavors that signify the fall season. Give pumpkin caramels as gifts or offer a platter of these delicious treats at your Halloween or Thanksgiving gatherings. Homemade Pumpkin Caramels Preparation time: 40 minutes plus 1 hour to cool Yield: 2 pounds or about 85 pieces 1 cup sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk 1/2 cup whipping cream 1 ounce shortening 7-1/2 ounces (1/2 of 15-ounce can) pure pumpkin 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon ginger 1/8 teaspoon sage Pinch of salt Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with nonstick paper.

Caramel is the basis for several different homemade gifts from your kitchen. For instance, you can make caramel dessert apples and caramel pecan clusters, or you can use it in any other recipes that call for a basic caramel. Homemade Caramels Preparation time: 40 minutes plus 1 hour to cool Yield: 1-1/2 pounds or about 75 pieces when cut 1 cup sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk 1/2 cup whipping cream 1 ounce shortening Pinch of salt Line an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with nonstick paper.