Salad and Candy from Kentucky

Here’s another recipe from my vacation. I visited with college friends, and my friend Carol gave me this delicious slaw recipe. It’s made with that packaged broccoli slaw and Ramen noodles. There are vegetarian versions of Ramen noodles available.

Broccoli Salad

12 ounce package broccoli slaw
3 chopped green onions
½ cup slivered almonds
½ cup toasted sunflower seeds
1 cup dried cranberries
1 package Ramen noodles with seasoning packet
¼ cup water
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
½ cup sugar (Carol substitutes ¼ cup sugar and ¼ cup Splenda, the only sugar substitute I can tolerate)

Reserve seasoning packet from Ramen noodles for the dressing. By hand, crush the uncooked noodles into small pieces. In large bowl, combine first five ingredients and the noodles. In small bowl or jar combine the next four ingredients, plus the seasoning from the noodles. Mix well. Just before serving pour dressing over the salad and gently stir to coat thoroughly. It will keep in the refrigerator for two days, but it’s crispier if you put the dressing on at the last minute.

Now that I’ve given you that healthy salad recipe I’ll tell you about the “Pulled Candy” we always buy when we go to Kentucky. This candy is made in Lancaster, which is the town where my mother’s family settled and my mother grew up. The candy is sold at all the state parks, and we always buy some. It’s very rich. Here’s a recipe in case you can’t get to a Kentucky state park gift shop to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Pulled Cream Candy

Ingredients:
3 cups sugar
1 cup boiling water
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. soda
1/2 stick butter or margarine
1 tsp. vanilla or maple extract

Preparation:
In a large, heavy saucepan, combine 3 cups sugar, 1 cup boiling water; cook over low heat to 234°, soft ball stage. Meanwhile, in another saucepan, combine milk, soda, and butter; bring just to the boiling point.

When the first mixture gets to soft ball stage, add the second mixture. Continue cooking, to 258°, hard ball stage. Remove from heat and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

Pour out onto a buttered marble slab. Begin to pull as soon as candy is cool enough to handle with hands. Pull until candy begins to harden. Stretch into long, thin rope. Cut with scissors. Wrap in cellophane wrappers. Makes about 1 1/4 pounds.