Lump Of Coal Candy For Christmas Stockings

Step 1: What You Do: Line an 8 inch square baking pan with foil, extending edges over the sides of pan. Lightly grease foil with butter or baking spray.

Step 2: Combine sugar, corn syrup and water in a heavy, non-stick, 2 quart saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a boil.

Step 3: Cook about 15 minutes, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 290 degrees F.

Step 4: Immediately remove from heat. Stir in anise extract and food coloring. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Cool completely.

Step 5: Lift candy out of pan using foil. Place candy between 2 layers of heavy-duty foil. Using a hammer or mallet, break candy into pieces the size of a lump of coal.

Step 6: Fill a plastic baggie with a few pieces of coal and attach the following poem:

Step 7: POEM: I heard you have been naughty not nice, And Santa even checked his list twice. So all the way from the cold North Pole all you're getting is a bag of coal.