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CHRISTMAS RECIPES

© Bertha Sutliff

Just as soon as the taffy has cooled enough that you can handle it with your hands, you have to work fast. Wash and butter your hands--and again I can't stress enough to use plenty of butter on your hands--take the taffy and divide it into several balls. Be sure you have a couple of people for each ball of taffy. Take the taffy and begin by pulling it between each other. You pull it into a long strand and fold it back into a single ball again. Don't make a strand so long that it will drop to the floor. Pull out and fold back over and over. As you do the taffy will become lighter in color because of the air being put back into it.

Getting tired? OK, when the taffy is too hard to make it stick back together again after pulling or if it is cracking when you start to pull it out or if it is just too hard to pull any more, it's time to quit.

Have your table or counter ready for the taffy by sprinkling powder sugar over it. Put the taffy down and shape into smaller pieces. Now...to make smaller pieces is your choice. You can pinch off pieces and roll them into little balls, make long strings and cut them into pieces with scissors, or flat pieces and break them up, it really doesn't matter how you finish off your taffy. It will keep for a very long time in a tight container kept in a cool place. I hope you enjoyed your taffy pull.

Another favorite is "Popcorn Balls." This is the standard recipe for the syrup:

1 cup sugar
1/3 cup white corn syrup (I have used molasses)
1/3 cup water
¼ cup butter
¾ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon vanilla

Put the sugar, syrup, water and butter with the salt in a saucepan and cook, stirring often until the sugar is dissolved. Continue cooking without stirring until syrup forms a brittle ball in the cold water. Add the vanilla and stir only enough to mix it in. Pour over your already popped popcorn and mix well. Butter your hands well and shape into small balls.

I have added peanuts or pecans to some of mine for an extra treat. I made a popcorn ball snow man one Christmas. The kids loved it.

I have one more recipe to share and it is one that I not only make at Christmas but all year around. It is my husband's favorite and the cookie jar is never empty of them.