Catholic Recipe: Old Fashioned Pull Taffy

This French Canadian custom of making "La tire Ste Catherine " is celebrated on St. Catherine' s Day, every November 25th. There is a legend that says that Marguerite Bourgeoys made "la tire" — pull taffy — for the first time on Sainte-Catherine's day when she opened her first school in Ville-Marie that we now call Montréal. She made the taffy to bring in both French and Indian French students.

DIRECTIONS

Combine sugar, Karo® syrup, water and cream of tartar. Place over heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Cook, without stirring, to 265 degrees on candy thermometer. Remove from heat; add coloring and flavoring if desired. Pour on greased platter or pie pan. Cool until easily handled.

Pull into ropes until chalky and porous. Break or cut into bite-size pieces with scissors.

This makes a mess, but is a lot of fun for everyone involved. Greased hands make pulling easier.