Back in the latter half of the 1800s and in the early part of the twentieth century Ocracoke young people periodically gathered for candy pulls, an important social gathering of the time.
Elizabeth Williams Howard ("Miss Bessy," 1892-1970) contributed the following recipe to the old "Ocracoke Cookbook":
Molasses Candy
1 cup molasses
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vinegar
a little butter & vanilla
Boil 10 minutes then cool enough to pull.
Maybe some of our readers will be able to get kids away from their electronic devices long enough to have an old-time candy pull. If so, let us know how it goes!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the Rondthalers of Ocracoke Island. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032112.htm.
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I guess this was before science discovered germs and bacteria. Oh yes, the good ole days makes my heart grow weary.
ReplyDeleteScience has also discovered that boiling has a tendency to kill bacteria (Louis Pasteur 1822-1895). Both clinical guidelines and the recipe call for ten minutes. Maybe Mr. Pasteur also knew that vinegar is slightly acidic and bacteria might have a little trouble thriving in such an environment.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, as long as the Taffy Pull participants wash their hands after playing in the kitty litter, I'll be more than willing to sample the end product.
Life is to important to take seriously.
TTFN, Bear MacDonald
Maybe you will be able to "pull" them away, but not before they google it.
ReplyDeletemight have to do that with my kids this summer! Sounds like a lot of fun! :)
ReplyDelete