Taffy

INGREDIENTS
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup light corn syrup
2 teaspoons glycerin
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1 teaspoon flavoring (such as vanilla, lemon, maple, or mint)
3 drops food coloring (optional)

DIRECTIONS
FYI - Don’t try to make taffy on a rainy or humid day.

1. Mix together sugar and cornstarch in the saucepan.

2. Use a wooden spoon to stir in the corn syrup, glycerin, water, butter, and salt. Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves.

3. Continue stirring until mixture begins to boil, then let cook, undisturbed, until it reaches the soft ball stage. Wash down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in warm water while the syrup cooks. Do not stir.

4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add food coloring and flavoring. Stir gently, then pour into a shallow greased cookie sheet to cool.

5. When the taffy is cool enough to handle, grease your hands with oil or butter and pull the taffy until it's light in color and has a satiny gloss. You can have a friend help with this step, which should take about 10 minutes.

6. Roll the pulled taffy into a long rope, about 1/2 inch in diameter, and cut it with greased scissors or a butter knife into 1-inch-long pieces. Let the pieces sit for about half an hour before wrapping them in wax paper or plastic wrap and twisting the ends of the wrapper. Makes about 30 - 50 pieces.