Select prickly pear cactus (or small barrel cactus if you own thistype of cactus, since it's illegal to remove it from the desert).
Remove spines and outside layer with large knife. Cut pulp across inslices one-inch thick. Soak overnight in cold water. Remove fromwater, cut in one inch cubes and cook in boiling water til tender.
Drain. Cook slowly in the following syrup until nearly all the syrupis absorbed. Do not scorch!
SYRUP for 2 QUARTS of CACTUS CUBES
Heat all ingredients until sugar is dissolved. Then add cactus.
Remover cactus from syrup, drain and roll in granulated or powderedsugar. For colored cactus candy, any vegetable food coloring may beadded to the syrup.