GoldStarHoneybees www.goldstarhoneybees.com 207-449-1121
HowtomakefondantforwinterbeefoodinyourtopbarhiveNotes:YouREALLYWILLneedacandythermometer;thisrecipeistemperaturesensitive!Useonlycanesugar.Organiccanesugarisfine.Readthelabelclosely.Ifitdoesn’tspecifycanesugar,itisprobablybeetsugar.Donotuseraw,turbinado,beet,orbrownsugar.Forpurposesofcalculatingpartsbyweight,ithelpstoknowthat2¼cupsofsugarweighs1pound.Whenthisrecipeismadeusing1cupofwaterto4cupsofsugar,thisrecipewillfilltheFlottumFondantFeederframe,availableatGoldStarHoneybees.Howtomakethefondant:Combine: 1partwaterto4partssugar(partscanbebyweightorvolume) ¼teaspoonofvinegarperpoundofsugar ¼teaspoonofsalt(Preferablyasaltcontainingbeneficialminerals)Combinetheaboveingredientsinasaucepanthathasalid.Bringthemixturetoaboil,stirringconstantly.Whenthemixtureboils,stopstirring,putthelidonthepanandboilfor3minutes.Uncoverthepanandclipthecandythermometertotheedge.Besurethetipissuspendedintheliquidanddoesnottouchthebottomofthepan.Continuetoboiluntilthetemperaturereaches234°F.At234°F,removethemixtureimmediatelyfromtheheatandwatchthecandythermometer.Allowthemixturetocoolto200°F.Whileyouarewaitingforthetemperaturetodrop,placeapiecewaxpaperalittlebiggerthanyourfeederframe,onyourbase.Placethefeederframeontopofthewaxpaper,sothattheedgeofthetopbardropsovertheedgeoftheflatsurface.Thisway,theframeitselflaysflatonthebase.Thisworkstocontainthefondant.
GoldStarHoneybees www.goldstarhoneybees.com 207-449-1121
Whenthefondantgetsdownto200°F,useawhisktowhipthemixtureuntilitturnsacloudywhite.Thistakesafewminutesbutnotaslongasyoumightthink.Pourthemixtureintoyourfeederframe.Dothisallatonce,notbitsatatime,movingthepanquicklysothatthemixtureflowsintothecornersoftheframe.AllowthefondanttocoolCOMPLETELY.Thiscantakeseveralhours.Whenitiscool,turnitover,layitonthecounter,andpopthebaseoff.Voila!Fondantinaframe!Removethewaxedpaper.Thefondantfeedercanthenbestoredinthefreezerinaplasticbaguntilneeded,orifyouneedtosupplementyourbees’naturalhoneystoresimmediately,simplyplacethefondantframeintothehiveattheedgeoftheclusterofbees.