Clove Cough drops (not yet fine tuned)

Prep cookie sheet that has a lip by lining with parchment paper.

Put about 1/4"-1/2" layer of

• Powdered sugar or cornstarch (Can reuse multiple times to make drops)

Pat smooth, then make indentations about 1/2" x 3/4". I used then handle of a kitchen tool. Small cough drops are nicer than big ones. Then set aside.

In very large, flat-bottomed mixing bowl place and stir to blend

• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/4 c. water
• 1 t. honey
• 1 t. lemon zest
• 1/4 t. ground cloves

Start microwaving in short hits. Microwave to hard crack stage. Usually happens very quickly after small ball forms when a drop is dropped in ice water. Try to catch it before mixture starts to darken. Watch for foaming. Can foam 10-20 times it original height. Honey seems to foam higher than sugar/water combo. Mix and scrape down sides with silicone high temperature scraper or metal spoon. My microwave times for this batch.

• 1'
• 2' (stirred to dissolve sugar)
• 2' (thicker, bubbles)
• 1' (double size foam)
• 1' (soft ball, thicker. - takes forever for heat to leave drop, may drop on ice next time?)
• 30" (started to crystallize, so I cooked it a little too far.)

Tilt bowl on side so you have a nice puddle of liquid. Scrape down sides into puddle or stuff will harden on sides of bowl. Careful. It's hot! Use a smaller teaspoon/dessert spoon to spoon mixture into powdered sugar indentations on cookie sheet. Let cool. I stick it in the freezer.

This variation melted in the mouth like sugar cubes. 

Soaking in hot water cleans equipment relatively easily

Objective:

I wanted a simple recipe with few ingredients so started out with just using honey, lemon juice, and cloves. Cough drops were very sticky and stuck to my teeth. I also wanted to cook it in the microwave and I don't have a candy thermometer. It appears that more honey results in a very sticky cough drop. 

My next variation I plan to not use lemon zest because I don't like the little bits. Instead I will substitute lemon juice for the water. Eventually I want to find the optimum combination of honey/sugar. Sugar melts in your mouth like a sugar cube and is not sticky. I'd also like to try a bit of oil to see if it adds smoothness to the cough drop.

ref:

• https://www.tastyeverafter.com/honey-lemon-ginger-cough-drops/
• https://www.mrrl.org/blog-entry/diy-cough-drops

Sourdough FlatBread with active starter or discard

In a larger flat bottom bowl with cover

Cut in

• 1.5 T. butter into
• 1 C. white flour 

Then mix in

• 1/2 C. Sourdough starter or discard
• 1/4 C. liquid
• 1 t. salt

Knead till it feels right. Add some flour if it's too sticky. 

Then let sit till it doubles or you have time to get around to it. Sometimes I mix in the morning, then bake either at night or the next day.

Divide into 10 balls. Pat into flattish discs. (Can flour hands to keep dough from sticking to hands if it is sticky.) Then roll each disc out to about a small plate/ saucer size on floured surface. Any bigger and they are hard to put into hot pan. It's ok if they have flour on them because it keeps them from sticking together before you bake them.

Use a cast iron pan or griddle and heat up past the point where water drops dance on it. (Hotter than the  temperature that you cook pancakes.) Do not use any other type of pan besides cast iron. Temperature is very high and could wreck other pans. Try not to burn youself.

Most recipes say to oil your pan. However I think it might work without oiling pan due to the flour on the rolled out flatbread. 

Place 1 raw flatbread onto/into cast iron pan/griddle. Watch for bubbles to appear on surface. It will start to set up and look dry. Maybe 30 seconds to a minute depending on how hot your pan is. Flip over and cook other side. Doesn't take long. Cook all flat breads till done.

At this point I put in one layer on pans in freezer. Once frozen, I put in a bag to take out and heat as needed.

In the past I've also used this recipe to make 4 small dense biscuits. They were tasty but I use flatbread more.

Recipes I used to come up with this one:

• https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/easy-sourdough-flatbread/
• https://documentingsimpleliving.com/sourdough-flatbread-recipe/
• https://www.melskitchencafe.com/easy-sourdough-flatbread/
• https://simplicityandastarter.com/sourdough-flatbread-recipe/
• https://simplicityandastarter.com/sourdough-flatbread-recipe/