A Candy Store's Worth Of Recipes

Everyone loves candy as we've just witnessed yesterday with Easter.Store bought bonbons can be good but what's even better is the homemade kind.Nothing beats fresh buttery fudge or creamy homemade caramels straight from the stove.Even better is that once one batch is gone ,another batch can be made. There's no need for a special trip to the local confectionary store for some more almond bark or lollipops. Author and candy maker Jane Sharrock knows this and gives us a plethora of yummy recipes in her latest book, 300 Best Homemade Candy Recipes (Robert Rose Publishers).There is almost every kind of sweet here, from nutty pralines to actual sugarplums made with apricots.What is the best part is that Ms. Sharrock separates the recipes into four categories, from novice and super easy to experienced.Once the home candy maker has tried a few recipes he or she can graduate to the next level.Another plus is the explanation of the different stages from soft ball to brittle.These help in more complicated candies such as lollipops and ganache.Ms. Sharrock also updates old recipes descriptions such as butter the size f a walnut or egg and clabber milk(essentially soured milk)'She had written an entire chapter on chocolate dipping along with hints for achieving the perfect coating.Another sweet touch are the anecdotes added to almost every candy.Many recipes are from family and neighbors and they are acknowledged in little stories under the recipes. The book is great and has some good how to photographs as well. I love the lollipop how too as well as the fudge one.Candy making seems so scary due to the intense high temps as well as getting it right, however the pictures seems to take a lot of the fear out of it. Ms Shartock has candy recipes for almost every taste.Some of the ones I'd love to try-are the pastel butter mints along with the old fashioned candy apples as well as the many fudge ones.Having grown up on homemade Jersey shore candy ,anything fresh from the kitchen is appealing.There is also a section on "healthy " candy,ones that re made with sunflower seeds and dried fruit..These recipes are great for moms who don't want to make something ultra decadent,There are also recipes that could work for birthday and theme parties such as popcorn balls and a neat sounding popcorn cake . What better favors than with glass candy and homemade toffee.All of the recipes would make lovely birthday or Christmas presents too. Candy really is dandy and the homemade kind even more so.Jane Sharrock proves that in her cookbook.It's not only a great book for candy lovers but also for home chefs who want to expand their repertoire.