Why · would · anyone · want · to · read · this?

First lesson: never post to your LJ that work is going to be good and ahead of schedule. Cuz Friday? SUCKED. Found out that the vendor's little install script only runs on Linux and Sun Solaris...and our IT Services group only support HP/UX. Heh. I lit up quite a few phone lines to bitch about THAT little stunt. Anyway, we'll find out Monday whether or not this means a 6 week or a 1 year delay in my project. *sigh*

Second lesson: when the cookbook says to use a candy thermometer - don't try to use a digital meat thermometer, even if it has a "candy" setting.
Trying to make fondant at home for the first time in my life yesterday. Each attempted used 3 cups of sugar. I tried 3 times before I finally got it right...and thank God DH was helping because otherwise I would've thrown the third attempt down the drain too...but he rescued it. The method that worked was:
Put the marble slab in the freezer.
Boil 1 cup of water.
Take it off the heat, stir in the sugar til its "mostly" dissolved.
Put it back on the heat and bring to a boil at mid-heat (setting 6 on my stove).
Sprinkle on 1/4 tsp of Cream of Tartar, stir it up really quickly, slap in the candy thermometer and turn the heat down to about 4.
Let it boil for about 5-10 minutes, slowly turning up the heat to 7.
Take the marble slab out of the freezer and put the metal cookie tray on top of it on the counter. This makes the tray nice and cool.
When the thermometer reads 235, start dropping bits of the liquid into cold water. When it stays in a malleable clump in the water, then its at "soft ball candy" stage, then pour it onto the cookie sheet (face UP, not inverted as the recipe book says).
Wait until the liquid turns almost solid (you can push a dent into it with your finger).
Use a STIFF spatula (not a floppy rubber one) to mix for a long dang time...more than 10 minutes, I think. Eventually it will turn into crumbly sugar that is white.
Then knead with the confectioners sugar until it becomes a smooshy lump that you can pick up in a solid ball.
So, I THINK I have fondant in my fridge now. :)
Unfortunately, this killed 3 hours of my day yesterday, so not much else got done.