subject: Candy In Today's World [print this page] Remember Candy Buttons and Red Licorice Pipes and Sen-Sen Breath Refreshments - the candy from the past? It sure takes you back. Candy is so memorable that even my neighbor, Candy James is named after it. And, you may have heard of Candy Schmidt.
Today there are many choices at the candy warehouse. It is literally a big rock candy mountain. Here are just a few examples: Peach Buds and Coconut Slices and Licorice Wheels and Squirrel Nut Caramels and Necco Wafers and Licorice Babies and Jujubes.
Although cocoa was grown as early as 1150 BC, candy undoubtedly was invented much earlier as a simple coating of honey on fruits and nuts as well as flowers and seeds. The sugar in the honey not only gave them an extra sweetness, but it helped to preserve them for storage.
In America, candy made from molasses and maple syrup as well as brittle were known in the 1600's and 1700's. Some early medicines eventually took the form of candy - marshmallows, licorice, peppermint and hard candies for example. Early American cookbooks actually include recipes for candies and other sweets like Iced almonds (iced with sugar) and Sugar candy (boiled refined sugar).
Here is a sample recipe of one:
"Nut Sweet 2 cups maple sugar (or brown sugar) 1/4 cup water 1 tablespoon butter 1 cup hickory nuts, or walnuts, broken. In a saucepan combine sugar, water, and butter. Cook over low heat until a candy thermometer inciates 238 degrees F., or until the syrup dropped in cold water forms a soft ball. Add the nuts. remove from heat and stir until the candy is thick. Drop in spoonsful onto waxed paper and let the patties harden."
