Homemade hard candy is a great gift idea! Use different colors and flavorings to match the holiday season.

Old-Fashioned Hard Candy

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 drop red food coloring (optional)
1/8 cup powdered sugar

1. In a heavy 2 quart saucepan, combine the sugar, water and corn syrup. Cook, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved; then cook without stirring, lowering the heat and cooking more slowly during the last few minutes, to the hard crack stage (300°F / 150°C), If sugar crystals form on sides of pan, wipe them off with a damp brush.
2. Remove from heat, add oil flavoring and enough food coloring to color; stir only to mix. Pour into 2 well buttered 9-inch pans. Set one pan of candy over a sauce pan containing hot water (unless you have a helper to help cut the candy). As soon as the other pan of candy is cool enough to handle, cut it with scissors into 1-inch strips. Then snip the strips into pieces. Work fast. Drop the pieces onto a buttered baking sheet. If the candy cools too quickly, set it on a saucepan over hot water to soften it, but if it gets sticky, return at once to the work counter.
3. Toss in a small amount of powdered sugar to keep from sticking together. Repeat with the second pan of candy.

Makes about 1 1/4 pounds or 20 servings.

Nutritional facts per serving: Calories 115, Protein 0g, Total Fat 0g, Sodium 15mg, Cholesterol 0mg, Carbohydrates 30.2g, Fiber 0g.

Adapted from a recipe by Tami L. Smith.