My mom has very fond memories of making this confection during the holidays. Almost every year during the holiday season, she brings up this taffy and always states, “We really need to make this.”
This year, mom will be here the week before Christmas and the nephews will be here Christmas Eve. Surely we can find a time to make this old time classic. I think it would be hilarious to watch the nephews during the “pulling” process.
Note: I love some of these directions!
Clothes Line Taffy (From grandmother’s family)
5 c. sugar
2 1/2 c. corn syrup
2 c. milk
2 small pkgs. gelatin
1 lb. pecans
butter (size of an egg)
paraffin (size of an egg), melted before adding gelatin
Soak gelatin in 1/2 c. cold water until soft and dissolved. Then, add the rest of mixture and cook until it breaks on side of pan. Pull in entire amount. Hang on clothesline and let get brittle.
I am a little unsure about the whole paraffin thing. Mom will have to walk us through this. (Personally, it sounds like a lot of work, but I am on board for making it at least once.)
This recipe is the same as what my mom used to make only we added 1 tablespoon of vanilla. Just make sure it is freezing outside and it is not a damp night the dryer the better. We don’t use the clothesline anymore since we don’t have one but lay it on our deck with the big sheet underneath it. I am 70 and still can remember when we used to make it all the time and we plan to make it this New Year’s. My mom was from the coid state of Ohio so they could make it more often since were from Kansas