Gumdrops & Packages & Warm Woolen Mittens!

I love gumdrops with a passion. And yet in spite of our exploration into bread baking and soap making and our family’s general abandonment of all things processed food (initially driven by the financial constraints that come with homeschooling), I never tried making candy. Until last weekend.

My son absolutely loves cooking and baking and making chocolates, so he was an obvious choice to help me try gumdrops. The process is really simple and we immediately developed our own recipe. The only caution is that the molten gumdrops really are hot and probably not a great activity for little ones. But getting the cooled confections sugared and cut and shaped is wonderful for any age (just be ready – you will have to clean the kitchen floor afterwards to get up all the dropped sugar).

 And homemade gumdrops taste incredible!

So here is the recipe:

• 1 packet Gelatin
• 1 box Jello (3 oz size) in your favorite flavor
• 1 cup Water
• 1 cup sugar

Combine ingredients in a pot and whisk continuously until the mixture boils and becomes thick.

Pour out into parchment lined pan that has been lightly oiled.

Cool then place uncovered in refrigerator overnight.

Turn out onto sugared board, remove parchment paper, completely dust with sugar.

Cut into shapes you like, then coat with sugar again. (don’t forget to eat as you go!)

Let sit uncovered in refrigerator again overnight.

Take out of refrigerator and store in a tin with loose dusting of granulated sugar.

Now on to the Packages & Warm Woolen Mittens…

 My sister-in-law is an incredible seamstress and makes warm woolen mittens out of reclaimed wool sweaters, unique buttons, and cashmere or fleece for the lining. We sell them on our Etsy shop (23by4 Creations) in sizes for moms and kids, and we are happy to make a pair that fit your measurements exactly. One recent customer bought a pair to use as a gift, but when she opened the package and tried on the mittens, she realized that she wanted to keep them for herself!

Enjoy The Season!

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