Horehound Candy

Sometimes you need to use up some of your stores before they go rancid. Candies are one of the best ways to go. i will start with a simple one, Horehound candy.




2 cups fresh horehound, leaves, stems and flowers (or 1 cup dried)
2 1/2 quarts water
3 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. butter
1 tsp. lemon juice (or 1 sprig lemon balm)

Using a large saucepan, cover horehound with water. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Strain through a cheesecloth and allow tea to settle. Ladle 2 cups of the horehound tea into large heavy pot. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar. Boil, stir often, until mixture reaches 240 F. Add the butter. Continue to boil until candy reaches 300F (hard crack). Remove from heat, add lemon juice {or lemon balm tea}. Pour at once into buttered 8" square pan. As candy cools, score into squares. Remove from pan as soon as it is cool. Store in an air tight container.