Salt Water Taffy

Taffies evoke nostalgia and childhood memories. These chewy delights that are wrapped in wax paper are usually sold alongside candy canes, bonbons, and bubble gums. In particular, salt water taffy is an invention from Atlantic City, New Jersey reputedly by David Bradley whose candy shop was flooded by a major storm in 1883. Since then, it has become a staple souvenir of many coastal resort towns. Modern production is made up of corn syrup, butter, and glycerin. The pulling process, which involves stretching out the mixture, folding it over, and stretching it out again ensures chewiness and lightness to the candy.

Ingredients:
1 ½ cups brown sugar

½ cup corn syrup

3 tablespoons butter

½ cup water

1 ½ teaspoons salt

½ tablespoon glycerin

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

Vegetable oil

Procedure:

In a saucepan or iron kettle, put together brown sugar, corn, syrup, butter, and water. Bring ingredients to a boil while stirring occasionally. When mixture reaches 124.44°C, or until it forms a hard ball when tested in cold water, add glycerin and salt. Mix well and remove from heat. Pour onto a greased marble
slab and let it cool.

Pull taffy until it is light in color. Add vanilla while pulling. Pull out in round sticks the size of kisses. Lightly oil a pair of scissors. Cut it in pieces of ¾ inch in length. Roll up in waxed paper and twist ends.
 

References:
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,177,134176-246195,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_taffy

Lychee Craving – Nano Emulsion

Pollution and stress bog us down that they take a toll on our body. But for those of us who are always on the go, taking supplements is not a bad idea. After all, our skin needs vitamins as well to get that much needed boost. Here is a skin energizer from Cosmetics and Toiletries that contains lychee extracts.

Ingredients:                                         Percent Weight:

Phase A

Eumulgin VL 75 (lauryl glucoside,            4.00
polyglyceryl-2 dipolyhydroxystearate, 

glycerin)

Cetearyl alcohol                                    2.00

Ethylhexyl stearate                               4.00

Cegesoft VP (vegetable oil,                    2.00

hydrogenated vegetable
wax, Euphorbia cerifera wax)

Dicaprylyl carbonate                              2.00

Passion flower Passiflora incarnata)         1.00

seed oil

Cocoglycerides                                      2.00

Dimethicone                                         1.00

Sodium polyacrylate                               0.80

Cloisonné Super Rouge 450Z                   0.15

(mica and iron oxide)   

Timiron Sparkle 147 

(mica and titanium dioxide)                    0.15

Phase B

Distilled water                                      68.6/q.s.

Elestab 388 (propylene glycol,                 2.50

phenoxyethanol, chlorphenesin,
methylparaben)       

Xanthan gum                                        0.20

Glycerin                                               4.00

Sodium stearoyl glutamate                     0.50

Phase C

Litchiderm LS 9704
(butylene glycol,Litchi chinensis              5.00
pericarp extract)               

Fragrance                                             0.10

Procedure:

Mix and heat ingredients of phases A and B separately at 75°C. Add B into A while stirring under low turbine until temperature drops to 60°C. Cool batch to room temperature while stirring gently. Add phase C ingredients at 40°C. Make sure that pH level is at 6.8 and viscosity is at 36,000 mPas before pouring into sterilized jars.

Reference: http://www.cosmeticsandtoiletries.com/

Clear Shaving Jelly

Smooth, easy, manageable – this shaving gel from Dow has it all! Glycerin moisturizes the skin while witch hazel and panthenol heal razor nicks. Daily morning shave has never been this good!

Ingredients:                                            Percent Weight:

Phase A

Carbomer                                           1.00

Phase B

Distilled water                                   30.00

Phase C

Triethanolamine                                 1.50

Distilled water                                   10.50

Phase D

Cocamidopropyl betaine                      8.00

Polysorbate 20                                  1.00

DMDM hydantoin                                0.20

PEG-12 dimethicone                           0.50

Phase E

Vegetable glycerin                             43.00

Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginia)          0.30

extract

D-panthenol                                       0.50

Phase F

Water                                                q.s.
Vegetable glycerin                               q.s.

Phase G

Dow Corning® 9509                             2.00

silicone elastomer
(vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer)

Phase H

Fragrance                                            q.s.

Solubilizer                                           q.s.

Procedure:

Mix carbomer with water while heating to approximately 50°C. Remove from heat and add all phase C ingredients. Mix well. Add phase D ingredients, mixing after each addition. Follow with phase E. Measure refraction index and adjust to 1.4039 with phase F. Add phase G. Check the clarity of the mixture. Mix phase H in another bowl before adding to the batch. Put in a centrifuge. Pour into plastic tubes.