Writing Research

Homemade Bubble Gum Recipe | Family Fun | Gum Books for Kids | Writing Research

~ Carole Marie ~ Leave a comment

Making Bubble Gum

While writing a fun story about bubble gum, I wondered if I could make my own gum from home.
I found a video showing how to make bubblegum and copied it. Finding the gum base to purchase took more searching than I anticipated, but don’t worry; I’m sharing my source here so you can easily find it.

Making bubble gum was a sticky process, and the first time around, we learned too late that using our nice dishes for mixing ingredients wasn’t the best option (we had to use rubbing alcohol to remove the gum base from our dishes and silverware afterward).

Once we switched to using paper bowls and a wooden stirring stick, the clean-up was a breeze. (The image on the left features gum base and flavor drop bottles.)

We purchased a gum base that is made in the USA from HungryRobot. It doesn’t smell very good when you pull it out of the package, but after adding the flavor oils and powdered sugar, it smells and tastes amazing.

We used two capfuls of either Bubblegum flavor or Cotton Candy flavor from LorAnn Oils, as we tested batches. With one batch, we also added a few drops of the LorAnn Tart and Sour Flavor Enhancer, which gave the gum a tangy sour punch. (Be aware that the more liquids you add to the gum base, the more powdered sugar you’ll need later.)

We also experimented with different food colors, but classic pink was our favorite.

After testing and verifying measurements, we invited guests to join in on the gum-making. We’ve had three bubble gum-making parties with teens and adults, followed each time by a bubble-blowing contest – what a blast!

Want to make bubble gum, too? You’ll find the recipe below. If you make homemade bubble gum, let me know. I’d love to hear your results!

Print Recipe

Homemade Bubble Gum

Equipment

  • 1 Paper bowl
  • 1 Paper plate
  • 1 Wood craft stick or plastic spoon
  • Cutting utensil or plastic knife
  • Wax paper or parchment paper, cut into squares

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 TBLS Unflavored Gum Base (or 30 grams)
  • 3 TBLS Corn Syrup
  • Flavor Drops Such as Cotton Candy or Bubble Gum flavors. We used 2 capfuls.
  • 1 Drop Food Coloring Red provides the classic bubblegum pink color
  • 2 TBLS Powdered Sugar

Instructions

  • In a paper bowl, microwave the gum base in ten-second increments until it’s fully melted. (use the wood craft stick to stir it)
  • Add the corn syrup, and continue microwaving in ten-second increments and stirring until fully mixed.
  • Add the flavor drops and stir.
  • Add the food coloring and stir. Set aside.
  • Pour the powdered sugar onto the paper plate.
  • Pour the melted ingredients into the middle of the powdered sugar.
  • Use the craft stick to pile surrounding powdered sugar onto the top of the mixture.
  • Using your fingers, press more powdered sugar in.
  • Massage the sugar in while adding more and more powdered sugar until the mixture is no longer sticky.
  • Roll the gum into a log.
  • Cut into gum-size pieces.
  • Drop the pieces back into the powdered sugar and roll.
  • Shake the sugar loose and roll each piece inside wax or parchment paper. Twist ends.

Notes

*We purchased gum base that is made in the USA from HungryRobot https://hungryrobot.com/products/base
**We used two capfuls of either Bubblegum flavor or Cotton Candy flavor from LorAnn Oils https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJMGG3MW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_bAmazon.com: LorAnn SS Flavor combo Pack – Bubble Gum and Cotton Candy – 1 Ounce : Grocery & Gourmet Food_fed_…

As I researched bubble gum, I learned about archeological evidence showing that chewing gum has existed for a long time. The Mayans, ancient Greeks, and others chewed gum. The world’s oldest preserved chewing gum is 9,000 years old and made from birch bark in Sweden.

More Fun Facts About Bubblegum:

*A British archeologist once discovered a 5,000-year-old piece of chewing gum in Finland. It was made from bark tar and still contained tooth imprints.

*The oldest bubble gum brand, Blibber-Blubber, started in 1906, but it was way too sticky. In 1928, Walter Diemer discovered a successful formula called Bubble Dubble, which is still being sold today.

*The most expensive chewing gum in the world is called Mastika Gum. If you’d like to try the gum that elitists and royal families worldwide chew, you can buy it online.

*The current world record for the most chewing gum chewed at one time is 250 pieces. Yikes!

*All forms of chewing gum have been banned in Singapore since 1992.

Picture Book Recommendations:

As I searched for picture books that feature bubble gum (to use as inspiration, mentor texts, and comp titles for the story I wrote), these books stood out as my favorites. Take a look!

*On Account of the Gum, by Adam Rex

*Bubble Gum Bison Needs a Bath by Scott Rothman

*Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy

Is There More Than One Hawaii? | Planetary Astronomy | Travel | Writing Research

~ Carole Marie ~ Leave a comment

When purchasing an airline ticket, have you ever made the mistake of choosing a city of the same name in a different state? Such as choosing Portland, Maine rather than Portland, Oregon? They are on completely opposite sides of the country, so it’s a blunder you would deeply regret.

But what if your mistake landed you in outer space? If space travel ever becomes readily available, we’ll have to ensure we don’t make that same mistake with Hawaii.

There is, of course, the lush big island of Hawaii that we know and love. Then there is the minor planet named after Hawaii, which is similar to a big rock — definitely not a tropical paradise. (Its formal name is ‘48575 Hawaii’.)

A minor planet is an astronomical object that orbits the sun. It is larger than a meteorite but smaller than the eight major planets. Minor planets include asteroids, dwarf planets, and distant objects. As minor planet discoveries are confirmed, they receive a number from the Minor Planet Center, and the discoverer can submit a planet name. If you’d like to see a list of all the minor planets named after places, click here.

And as you’re planning your space travel itinerary, here’s a list of minor planets named for various places in the state of Hawaii, including volcanoes:

  • 48575 Hawaii (Big Island of Hawaii)
  • 284891 Kona (Kona District, Hawaii)
  • 342431 Hilo (Hilo, Hawaii)
  • 34901 Mauna Loa (a volcano that forms the largest part of the Big Island of Hawaii)
  • 171183 Haleakala (a volcano on the island of Maui)
  • 188534 Mauna Kea (a volcano on the island of Hawaii)

I stumbled upon these minor planets during my writing research, which prompted a story that I’m currently refining and polishing to submit for traditional publication as a picture book.

In this story the main character, Kai, lives in Hawaii, and the wrong package is delivered to his home. Kai attempts to return it to the galactic delivery driver, but the contents are quite slippery (and there are so many snapping teeth!). After numerous mishaps, they end up in outer space, attempting to get the dangerous package (pssst… it’s a shark) delivered to its intended destination on the minor planet, Hawaii. But there’s no water there. In the end, they discover a solution, one with an ocean of water and the ability to track that slippery shark!

While I enjoy visiting the Hawaiian islands, I have no desire to visit a minor planet that lacks oxygen and pineapples. So, unfortunately, the minor planet of Hawaii is not on my travel itinerary. (But if you ever trek your way there, please take lots of pictures and share them with me.)