Cotton Candy Making

So, you want to make cotton candy but have no idea where to start? Not to worry! Cotton candy making requires surprisingly few supplies.
To begin with, you're going to need sugar. Sugar is the main ingredient in cotton candy. You'll also need food coloring if you want to make it pink for example, or blue. You'll also need water and flavorings - although the flavoring isn't necessary, just in case you want it be other than sugar flavored!
Now if you'd like to make homemade cotton candy - similar to the traditional spun candy that was popular centuries ago - it's a simple process. Well, almost.
First there are the ingredients you'll need to get:
-5 cups sugar (granulated white)
-1 1/3 cup light corn syrup
-1 cup, 2 tbsp water
-flavorings
-food coloring
-non-stick vegetable oil spray
-saucepan (approximately 2 qt)
-2 long handled spoons (wooden preferred)
-wire whisk (one that you won't miss)
-wire cutters
-candy thermometer
-tempered glass bowl
-newspaper or garbage bags

You're probably looking at the list wondering what in the world some of this stuff is for, right? I'll explain. First you're going to need to use the wire cutters to cut off the rounded bottom of the whisk. We don't really need a whisk, just the metal tines that we'll create by cutting off the bottom. Next, use the garbage bags or newspaper to cover the floor where you'll be working. You certainly don't want melted sugar on your floor.

Get a large object (such as a book) and position the two spoons on the counter so that the handles stick out into the air with the other end underneath the book. Spray the ends with the non-stick vegetable oil spray. That takes care of your work area, now onto mixing things up.

-Mix sugar, corn syrup and water in the saucepan. Cook on about medium heat until the mixture reaches 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Use your candy thermometer to verify the temperature. Be sure that it doesn't go over 320 degrees or it will begin to turn brown.

-When the mixture has reached that temperature, remove the pan and pour into your tampered glass bowl. Use pot holders if necessary, it will be very hot. It is necessary that you remove it from the pan as soon as possible, otherwise it will continue heating (and turn brown).

-If you want to add color or flavor, this is the time to do so. Mix it in immediately.

-Using the end of your modified whisk, dip the end with tines into the mixture and let some excess drip back into the bowl before waving it over the spoon handles. The mixture should land on the handles. Continue doing this until the mixture is gone. You have approximately 10 minutes before the mixture becomes too hard to wave properly. If it does happen to become hard, just pop it into a microwave for 3-5 minutes, or until it's liquefied again.

-Once all the mixture is all used, wait for it to harden and then carefully remove and eat - or save for later!

Alternatively, you could use an upside down bowl (that's been sprayed with non-stick spray) and make strands with your whisk. This would give you results closer to the original spun sugar.