Make Your Own Lollipops

Ingredients:

• vegetable oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup water
• 3/4 tsp. peppermint extract*
• 2 drops red food coloring*

Directions:

Brush inside surfaces of lollipop molds with oil.

Combine sugar, syrup and water in medium saucepan; stir well. Cook over low heat without stirring until candy thermometer reaches hard crack stage (310 F). Remove from heat; stir in extract or flavoring and food coloring.

Immediately pour hot mixture into molds. Press sticks in indentations of molds, gently twirling to embed. Cool completely; lift lollipops out of molds, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Store in a cool, dry place. Makes about 8 (2 inch) lollipops.

* You can substitute your choice of flavoring or food coloring to suit your tastes.

By Terri