01.01.70

A fond memory of my childhood was when my mom and us kids made Pull Taffy. Mom would make a gooey concoction then place it on the buttered pan. The pan was then placed on the porch to cool. When it was cool enough to handle, we would start to pull the mixture until it was thicker in texture and white in colour. We then twisted it into rolls and cut it into bite size pieces. Mom said, "We kept it simple because we didn't have all the fancy ingredients. It was the only time of the year the children got candy. That is why they all have good teeth."

Many laughs were shared between me and my five siblings. A memory of Christmas and family that are very special to me.

OLD FASHIONED "PULL" TAFFY

Ingredients:

4 cups sugar

¼ teaspoon of salt

1 cup (white) vinegar

Place all the ingredients into a deep kettle. Boil to hard ball stage, and then pour into a buttered pan. Cool the mixture until it can be handled.

Rub hands with butter. Then pull the mixture until it turns white.

Source: Langley AdvanceNews

by Tricia

The other day Bella was at my house and had a bagel with cream cheese. Way, way too much cream cheese I must say. We just ordered a bagel with cream cheese. Not a schmear. (Schmear: another Yiddish word, actually meaning the amount of cream cheese on a bagel. Oh the things you can learn living in New York!) But we didn't ask for extra, just said bagel and cream cheese. This bagel had enough cream cheese to put on at least 4 more bagels. What a waste! Bella had no idea what it was. I couldn't believe it. She's smart, notices everything, so I know she's never seen it used. I told her what it was and what you can use it for, including candy making, art, sewing patterns. I also use it to bread my chicken cutlets, instead of having one more dish to clean I just put the bread crumbs on the wax paper. My mom probably did that too.

Source: Molly Made Me Do It: Wax Paper?

I need tips for cleaning paraffin wax from cooking utensils once you are finished with your candy making adventures...


I just finished making some wonderful bon bons with my daughter, and now I am left with figuring out how to clean the mixing bowl that contains leftover chocolate and paraffin mix.


I know wax isn't water soluble so does anyone have any ideas how to best accomplish this task?


Thanks in advance.

Jim







I have to assume you've sorted this problem out by now since a couple of days have passed from when you sent in your question. (Sorry about that!)


Nevertheless, I did think that this is a good question and very well may come up again so it's certainly worth a little discussion.


I assume that you are simply referring to the chocolate paraffin mixture that is left in your pan and on your utensils after your candy making. Even though you make a good point that wax isn't water...

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