chocolate nut drops

Like potatoes, tomatoes, and corn, it is hard to imagine that before the discovery of the New World there was no chocolate in Europe and no dairy milk/cheese in the Americas. This typical recipe which seems so commonplace and normal to us came about from the culinary fusion of the Old and New Worlds several centuries ago.

• 2 tbsp butter

• 2 C sugar

• 2 squares unsweetened chocolate

• 2/3 C milk

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 2 tbsp corn syrup

• 1 1/2 C oats

• 1 C shredded coconut

• 1 C nuts

• wax paper

1. Combine the sugar, chocolate, salt, syrup, and milk in a sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly to avoid scorching. Cook until soft ball stage is reached, or 235 degrees. Soft ball stage means that when a drop of the boiling mix is dropped into cool water a soft ball forms. Here, this video shows it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lchea5BHbgs

2. Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat. Stir in the vanilla, butter, oats, coconut, and nuts. Mix all the ingredients together well.

3. Set out waxed paper on a flat surface. Drop the chocolate mixture by the teaspoonful on the waxed paper. Let the candy set until it has hardened.

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