Licorice Drops

1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 Tablespoon black food coloring
1/4 Teaspoon anise extract or pulverized anise seeds

Put the sugars, water and corn syrup into a pot, set the pot over medium heat and stir. When the batch has boiled for the first time, wash the sugar crystals down from the sides of the pot. Put the thermometer in the pot and cook without stirring to 290F [soft crack stage]. Take the pot from the heat and add the food coloring and the anise flavoring and stir them in gently.

With a teaspoon, drop round patties about the size of quarters onto a greased baking sheet. If the candy in the pot gets too firm for spooning, reheat it gently until it softens.

Cool the drops completely but not in the refrigerator or the pieces will stick. Wrap the drops individually in wax paper.