## Golden Syrup ### Ingredients: - 200g granulated sugar - 50ml water - 1/4 tsp lemon juice or citric acid (to prevent crystallization) ### Instructions: 1. **Prepare Your Utensils**: Before you start, make sure you have a clean, heavy-bottomed saucepan and a heat-proof spatula or wooden spoon ready. 2. **Dissolve the Sugar**: In the saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Stir gently over low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved. Avoid letting the mixture boil at this stage, as it might crystallize. 3. **Add Lemon Juice**: Once the sugar has dissolved, add the lemon juice or citric acid. 4. **Boil the Syrup**: Increase the heat to medium and bring the mixture to a boil without stirring. Let it boil for about 5-10 minutes or until it reaches a nice golden color. Keep a close eye on the pot to prevent the syrup from burning. 5. **Check the Consistency**: To check the consistency, drop a little syrup into a bowl of cold water. It should form a soft ball that can be flattened between your fingers. If it's too runny, continue to boil for another few minutes and check again. 6. **Cool and Store**: Once the syrup reaches the right consistency, remove it from heat and let it cool completely. Then transfer it to a sterilized glass jar and seal tightly. 7. **Use in Recipes**: Your homemade golden syrup is now ready to be used in various recipes, like the gingerbread recipe you mentioned earlier! Remember, making golden syrup is a bit of an art and it might take a couple of tries to get the hang of it. Good luck!