Ok. Update. I tried tonight. FAIL!!!!! I think I just found where I went wrong. Well, firstly, an hour and fifteen minutes now, the ol' lady is still coughing and hacking and in between both while trying to breathe, I am still getting yelled at. "It's not funny, don't laugh, etc, etc...." Who said I was laughing, out loud anyways. So, I was told I need a hot plate and I am banished to the garage. We'll see about that! Anyways, picked up a candy thermometer, followed the directions, but think I took it off too late. I saw the color change, but my thermometer was still not there, so left it on at the 'boil'. As soon as it hit the magic 295, I removed it from the heat, but it was already a very dark brown color. I think that it was already well above the magic temperature, but the thermometer was still just climbing. This is when the magic happened, I added 1/8 teaspoon powder to the mix, and 1/4 tsp cinnamon oil as called for. I did have the range hood on high and the pot directly under it. So while she is at work next Thursday, I WILL do it again, and IN the house! If you think I missed something, or if you feel my post is invading on your topic, just let me know and I will remove it. Thank you.
Recipe I followed was this:
http://candy.about.com/od/specialoccasions/r/heartpops.htm
Recipe is pretty much as you had done, except that it called for 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon oil in which I used.