I Might Not Know Much About It, But It Is Tasty - Cotton Candy Machine
Hey Reader!
You might recall that I have been very curious about cotton candy in this blog. Why? I mean, because it is fascinating. For Valentine's Day, I was shocked to come home and see that my Valentine had gotten me a full kit to get me started as a cotton candy artist!
Not only did he get me 3 classic sugar flavors, he got me an assortment of hard candies to try using in the machine. Not to mention some flavored cotton candy for experimentation purposes. He also tried his hand at book binding and self-publishing with his book entitled: Cotton Candy: A Curious Confection. I am sure the audio book is coming out soon for all you busy cotton candy enthusiasts.
Did you know that in South Africa it is called Ghost's Breath? Or that it's origins can be traced back to as early as 206 B.C in the Han Dynasty. You should really get a guy to self-publish your own book on cotton candy if you want to know lots of things about it. Oh yea, I went there.
Lets give making ghost's breath a try, shall we? The idea is that the center gets really hot, and whatever is in there - sugar or crushed candy - will melt. Sugar then spins out of the device in strands that can be collected on a handle for eating. This is a much less time consuming process than the way the Han's did - or more accurately their servants because you know they weren't making candy.
I started with the traditional blue flavor. I could share with you what that means, but honestly get your own copy of Cotton Candy: A Curious Confection. It spun and spun for a long while and I got worried that I might not be smart enough for the cotton candy machine. Then all of a sudden there was strings appearing!
The stick quickly started to fill up with delicious blue cotton candy. My aunt always called it spider webs when she didn't want us to get it. I am not sure if she thought that made it less appetizing. I am totally cool with sugary spiderwebs. Now, spiders on the other hand, they can fuck right off.
Within a few minutes I had a very respectable looking cotton candy! The next picture is really great. Not only can you see the respectable cotton candy, but you can really see the heating element under the candy tray, as well as what the strings of cotton candy look like. There is a string coming from the handle all the way into the machine that gives you a really good sense of how this machine works.
I have tried to recreate my success other times. While all cotton candy is delicious, none of my attempts since this first one have been quite as "could be bought at a fair" in the presentation.
I have also tried it a few times with jolly ranchers and other candies. Things to note:
1. Hitting candy with a hammer is incredibly cathartic and I recommend you do that instead of normal candy crush.
2. DO NOT USE MINTS.
3. Don't use candy that has liquid insides or is soft. Only use hard candies. Someone asked if I could use chocolate. Chocolate hard candies, yes. Actual chocolate, no.
The box literally shows mints being used in the machine. Well the first mints we threw in did not work. It created a fine snow effect of mint flavored nonsense that quickly filled the apartment with snow. Mint flavored snow, but snow nonetheless.
I was extremely worried about cleanup, but it was really easy. All the parts come off and running it under hot water for a few seconds makes all the candy melt away.
I am looking forward to using cotton candy at my next house party. I will update with pictures of some epic cotton candy drinks. I really like that first one that has a fun surprise inside!
I am finally out of scheduled posts so I will need to come up with a new craft project soon.
Keep making cool stuff!
Until next time,
JoshPrime
You might recall that I have been very curious about cotton candy in this blog. Why? I mean, because it is fascinating. For Valentine's Day, I was shocked to come home and see that my Valentine had gotten me a full kit to get me started as a cotton candy artist!Not only did he get me 3 classic sugar flavors, he got me an assortment of hard candies to try using in the machine. Not to mention some flavored cotton candy for experimentation purposes. He also tried his hand at book binding and self-publishing with his book entitled: Cotton Candy: A Curious Confection. I am sure the audio book is coming out soon for all you busy cotton candy enthusiasts.
Did you know that in South Africa it is called Ghost's Breath? Or that it's origins can be traced back to as early as 206 B.C in the Han Dynasty. You should really get a guy to self-publish your own book on cotton candy if you want to know lots of things about it. Oh yea, I went there.
Lets give making ghost's breath a try, shall we? The idea is that the center gets really hot, and whatever is in there - sugar or crushed candy - will melt. Sugar then spins out of the device in strands that can be collected on a handle for eating. This is a much less time consuming process than the way the Han's did - or more accurately their servants because you know they weren't making candy.
I started with the traditional blue flavor. I could share with you what that means, but honestly get your own copy of Cotton Candy: A Curious Confection. It spun and spun for a long while and I got worried that I might not be smart enough for the cotton candy machine. Then all of a sudden there was strings appearing!
The stick quickly started to fill up with delicious blue cotton candy. My aunt always called it spider webs when she didn't want us to get it. I am not sure if she thought that made it less appetizing. I am totally cool with sugary spiderwebs. Now, spiders on the other hand, they can fuck right off.Within a few minutes I had a very respectable looking cotton candy! The next picture is really great. Not only can you see the respectable cotton candy, but you can really see the heating element under the candy tray, as well as what the strings of cotton candy look like. There is a string coming from the handle all the way into the machine that gives you a really good sense of how this machine works.
I have also tried it a few times with jolly ranchers and other candies. Things to note:
1. Hitting candy with a hammer is incredibly cathartic and I recommend you do that instead of normal candy crush.
2. DO NOT USE MINTS.
3. Don't use candy that has liquid insides or is soft. Only use hard candies. Someone asked if I could use chocolate. Chocolate hard candies, yes. Actual chocolate, no.
The box literally shows mints being used in the machine. Well the first mints we threw in did not work. It created a fine snow effect of mint flavored nonsense that quickly filled the apartment with snow. Mint flavored snow, but snow nonetheless.
I was extremely worried about cleanup, but it was really easy. All the parts come off and running it under hot water for a few seconds makes all the candy melt away.
I am looking forward to using cotton candy at my next house party. I will update with pictures of some epic cotton candy drinks. I really like that first one that has a fun surprise inside!
I am finally out of scheduled posts so I will need to come up with a new craft project soon.
Keep making cool stuff!
Until next time,
JoshPrime
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