Pumpkin Candy

Total Time: 49 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 48 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 sugar pumpkin, about 3 lbs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• water
• 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 lemon
• 4 sprigs fresh cilantro

Recipe

• 1 Peel and seed pumpkin and cut into 2x4-inch strips.
• 2 Put strips into bowl just big enough to hold them.
• 3 Stir baking soda into enough water to cover strips. Pour over strips and let stand 12 hours.
• 4 Drain and rinse strips in running water.
• 5 Bring a pot of water to a boil and drop strips into water. Cook until tender but not soft.
• 6 Remove strips and crisp in ice cold water. Drain.
• 7 Juice lemon and cut zest into strips.
• 8 Combine sugar, lemon juice, zest, cilantro and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved, then boil slowly without stirring for 10 minutes.
• 9 Add pumpkin strips, cover pot, and simmer for 20 minutes, until syrup is thick and strips are brittle.
• 10 Spread candy on wax paper and let dry for 10 hours.
• 11 Store pieces in an airtight container.