Candy Coal
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. black paste food coloring
1/2 cup water
1 tsp. anise extract

Line 8" square baking pan with foil, extending edges over sides of pan. Lightly grease foil with butter. Combine sugar, corn syrup and water into heavy 2-quart saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a boil, being careful not to splash sugar mixture on side of pan. Carefully clip candy thermometer to side of pan (do not let bulb touch bottom of pan). Cook about 15 minutes until thermometer registers 290 F., without stirring. Immediately remove from heat. Stir in anise extract and food coloring. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Cool completely. Lift candy out of pan using foil. Place candy between 2 layers of heavy-duty foil. Pound with mallet to break candy into 1-2" pieces.

Use candy or black jelly beans for coal or even use a charcoal briquette for the "lump of coal" poems.

Bag of Coal

Now don't get all high and haughty
cause you know you've been naughty.
Being good may have been your goal,
but Santa peaked and you're getting coal!

Lump of Coal

I'm sure being good was your goal
but all you're getting is a lump of coal.
Now please don't get all high and haughty,
cause that's what you get for being naughty!

Grumpy

You don't like the holidays
and are grumpy as a whole,
so you'll probably enjoy
getting this lump of coal!

by voodidit