-
1
Line bottom and sides of 9x5 loaf pan with foil; grease the foil with butter; set aside.
-
2
Grease bottom and sides of heavy saucepan with remaining butter; add sugar and corn syrup; cook & stir over medium heat until it comes to a boil--about 9 minutes.
-
3
Tweak heat up to med-hi until candy thermometer reads 280* (soft-crack stage), stirring constantly.
-
4
Meanwhile (this is getting exciting!
-
5
), in another large saucepan, combine water, pectin and soda (slight foaming--see, I told you this was exciting); cook and stir over HIGH heat until boiling--about 2 minutes.
-
6
REMOVE from heat; set aside.
-
7
Back to the other pan: when 280*; remove from heat -- return pectin pan to med-hi heat to a SIMMER; carefully and slowly (see this IS exciting!)
-
8
ladle corn syrup mixture into a VERY THIN stream into the pectin mixture, stirring constantly (you may need another hand here in case you're not multi-ambidextrous!).
-
9
Cook and stir one minute longer.
-
10
Remove from heat, stir in Flavorful Deliciousness'es.
-
11
Pour into prepped pan.
-
12
Let the candy sit for TWO HOURS.
-
13
(Clean up the mess over at the stove.)
-
14
Cut into tiny squares (try to get six dozen, that's six by twelve or 72 pieces--yes, from that one loaf pan--but remember, dearie, this is CANDY!
-
15
).
-
16
Roll gumdrops in additional sugar if desired.
