Thanksgiving, 2021: Abby Heaven

Anyone whose been reading this blog for a while knows that Abby's absolute favorite treat is a candy cane.

And lucky for her, candy cane heaven is just across the Wabash River in Lafayette.

McCord's Candies has been in business for about 100 years. They are the quintessential sweet shop - with an old fashioned soda fountain, candy, and ice cream - but their hallmark is their handmade candy canes.

 

They are one of only a handful of places in the United States that still makes their candy canes by hand. And as part of our Thanksgiving festivities, we took a tour of the candy cane "factory" above the shop.

The hot liquid sugar mixture is poured onto a greased marble topped table and then turned with spatulas as it cools and changes consistency.

Then it is hung over a hook and pulled repeatedly.

A third is cut off, colored red, and then one part of that red portion is put on the bottom of the white mass

while the other part is cut again, this time into thirds, and put on top. These form the stripes (three narrow and one wide) when the candy cane is rolled and twisted.

That takes place in front of a heater to keep the candy mixture soft and pliable so it can be rolled.

The long strand is cut into pieces and then shaped into the traditional candy cane shape. Finished canes are put onto trays to cool and harden.

As part of the tour, we were each given a warm strand to shape as we desired. 

Look at that pretty heart that Julie made! I'd be smiling too if mine had looked that nice! (I did a heart, too, and it didn't.)

Susie told me that hers was "rather pear shaped." 

All too soon our tour came to an end 

and we headed back downstairs.

The candy shop and factory are in an old building downtown and the woodwork is gorgeous.

A view of the candy shop from the grand staircase... where Grammy and Boompa treated everyone to some yummy homemade candy.

As for Abby, I may give her one of the McCord's candy canes instead of the usual ones I get at the store.

Maybe.