How can I make rock candy at home?

Search: make rock candy

Why: I don't know if I've mentioned this (I have), but we've been making our own sweet tea vodka at home because Firefly, while goddamn delicious, is also goddamn $20 a bottle. The only real ingredients are tea, vodka, and simple syrup. A few weeks ago, Chandler made some simple syrup on the stove, and then we abandoned our apartment to dogsit at his sister's house.

We've been back many times, of course - poor Maddie is there all alone. Just last night, I noticed that the simple syrup - still sitting on the stove - had hardened into a thick shell with some liquid underneath. (like this, kind of)

And now I have a hankering for rock candy. (I would eat what's in there, but it has pieces of basil in it from a different experiment, and possibly a few dead flies. Plus it's been sitting there for literally 3 whole weeks.)

Answer: Oh god, it's so easy! There is a nice photo tutorial here, but I will show you how simple it is first. All you need is:

• Water
• Granulated sugar
• Flavoring extract or oil (optional)
• Food coloring (optional)
• Glass jar
• Thread or skewer
  

And here is what you do:

1. Wet the thread or skewer and roll it in the sugar. This will give the sugar crystals something to "grab" when they start forming.

2. Make some simple syrup by dissolving sugar in boiling water.

3. Add coloring & flavors. (Sidenote: We just got a SodaStream - which is awesome - and I wonder if those flavor syrups would work with this. I WONDER.)

4. Fill the jar with the simple syrup.

5. Dangle the thread or skewer inside the surp (tie it to a pencil or pin it) so it hangs about an inch above the bottom of the jar. Don't let it touch the sides.

6. Put in a cool, dark place. Crystals should start to form in 4-6 hours. Allow to grow to the size you want; larger candy can take up to a week.

Or you can just get a kit. It looks like a really good garnish, either way.

Source: Candy.About.com

The More You Know: Wait, is everyone thinking about "hankering" now? What is the origin of the word "hankering"? Me too. To "hanker" means:

c.1600, of unknown origin, probably from Flemish hankeren, related to Du. hunkeren; perhaps an intensive of M.Du. hangen "to hang." If so, the notion is of "lingering about" with longing or craving.