Ingredients

2 cups white sugar

1 cup water

1⁄2 teaspoon lemon juice (jarred, to reduce the change of crystallization)

1 teaspoon orange extract (optional, see notes below)

Directions

Place all ingredients in a heavy bottomed pot, over medium-high heat.

Stir as the mixture is heating up, but DO NOT STIR once it starts to boil or simmer.

Once the mixture comes to a low boil, gently swirl the pot a few times, but do not stir or jostle the pot. Also, do not put a spoon or etc into the pot.

Lower the heat to low/medium. Simmer for 7 minutes, without stirring.

Turn off the heat.

At the five minute mark, have the kids go collect clean snow in large baking pans.

Drizzle the candy syrup over the snow (a tablespoon or two per serving). It will be cool enough to eat within seconds. With young children, be vigilant.

This makes enough for five kids to make two or three rounds of snow candy.

Clean-up will seem awful - but it's just sugar; Soak everything in warm water, and cleaning will be a breeze.

Flavoring note: I use natural orange flavoring extract; this seems to be my kids' favorite. We've also used no flavor (just the sugar with the lemon juice). Flavoring is a matter of preference; any extract will work - vanilla, peppermint, cherry, etc.