where is everyone?

[sewingrandma]

How do you make gumdrops. That is one candy that I love especially in citrus flavors.

[LeapFrog Libby]

We met at 10 am this morning and stuffed our 50 Stockings going to the troop in Kandahar Afghanistan. I have not heard yet if the donations covered the mailing expenses. Our church members are already talking about what to do differently next year.. It does my heart good to see the support we get for this project. Now maybe I can do some sewing for gifts for the family. I think I have gotten most of my charitable work out of the way. I still can make a few more bibs for the USO unit at the airport if I have time. Otherwise the 23 on hand will have to do.. (had 2 more but a friend's daughter had a little girl last week, and she had to have 2 bibs) My thoughts, not theirs. LOL..

[Mom of Six]

Maybe one of your stockings will end up with my DD's boyfriend! he is in Afghanistan until January or Feburary

[LeapFrog Libby]

These are going to a unit in Kandahar that staffs a medical clinic there and are for the unit and the patients this year.. Last year a son of a church member was in this unit. We sent 25 last year, but this year Brian is back and he asked us to include patients and all involved so that is why we sent 50 today. Actually we sent 51, because we had a few items left and so the group filled the 1st stocking i made from scraps to test the pattern and sent it along. LOL Sandra had been using it to test what would or would not fit inside..

[Mule]

Brockie, Gumdrops are pretty easy to make as most recipes just use Knox gelatin, and it doesn't have to be cooked to a specific temperature like many candies. Some of the recipes say to flavor with extracts, but I would recommend using LorAnn flavoring oils as they're much better. They have a zillion flavors available on their website, or I've seen a small selection of their popular flavors at Hobby Lobby.

For candy that's more like the larger fruit jellies, recipes generally call for fresh fruit puree (or juice mixed with applesauce for texture) cooked with pectin.

It's sugar, so you can't go wrong either way!

[sewingrandma]

Thanks Beth for the info. I'll have to look into it.