bees taking syrup in 30's, fondant recipe for Jen
I saw that when I went to pull jars the evening after the front hit. I made fondant last night, no pollen sub, no essential oils, just sugar, water and cream of tartar. It was 38 with a wind chill in the upper 20's when I finally got the toddlers down for a nap so I could feed the hives, and 2 of them were still taking syrup. Bad news is I had a migratory cover with screen on hive 1 and it is only one box and I had to actually open it, killed at least 10 bees I'm sure unless they got back in that front door fast enough. But they have fondant under an inner cover and over the opening of the inner cover now, and a styrofoam sheet in their telescoping lid. Didn't bother with styrofoam on the bigger hives. And 3 more plates of fondant on the table. I just make a half batch.
5 lbs of sugar, 1 pint of water. pinch of salt, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar.
Bring water to boil with salt, add half sugar, when dissolved add 2nd half, cream of tartar and hang candy thermometer in pan. I use a wooden spatula to stir, and stir until it hits a boil, after it starts boiling stop stirring or it runs over. keep on med high heat til 238 degrees for fudgy, or 250 I think for hardshell. I do 238.
, then remove from heat. IF you were adding pollen sub in January or February this is the point where it would go in. I pour into paper plates, about half an inch thick so its easy to get in on top of frames if I am not using an extra box for some reason. Let cool thoroughly.
The beehive I opened did and didn't appreciate me. They were not clustered, but on the lid, and I smelled banana when I cracked it so I shoved in a small piece of candy and closed it, went and got jacket, smoker and a hive tool and brush. Came back and opened up, they were already on that piece of candy.
Reminds me I don't know what I did with the owens corning pink I took out of that box.... Gotta go back outside before the kids wake up
