Want a unique party idea for your child¡¯s birthday¡ªor even\rher next weekend sleepover with friends? Try hosting your\rown taffy pull. It can get pretty messy, but kids absolutely\rlove it. Just follow these steps to minimize the mess . . .\rand maximize the fun!

1. Stock up on supplies.

If you don¡¯t already own basic candymaking tools, stocking\rup is pretty easy. You¡¯ll need a medium-size saucepan\r(3 or 4 quarts) with a heavy bottom and straight sides. \rYou¡¯ll also need a long-handled wooden spoon, a pastry brush \r(used to brush off any crystals that might form), and a good\rcandy thermometer with a metal clamp that attaches to the \rside of your saucepan.

Next, go shopping for taffy ingredients. For the recipe \rin this article, you¡¯ll need to pick up the following: \rsugar, corn syrup, salt, unsalted butter, flavoring extracts\r(vanilla, raspberry, and lemon), food coloring (red and yellow\rwork nicely), flour, wax paper, and candy wrappers.

2. Prepare your kitchen.

If you resign yourself to the fact that this party is going\rto get messy, you¡¯ll be in the right mindset to just relax \rand let the kids have fun. Still, there are a few simple \rsteps you can take to minimize the mess.

First, lay down several painter¡¯s cloths, taping the edges\rto protect every inch of your floor. Next, sprinkle a light \rlayer of flour over the painter¡¯s cloths¡ªthis will help keep\reveryone¡¯s shoes from sticking to the cloths when the \rinevitable spills occur. Finally, tape down some wax paper \rover the table or countertop where you plan to start your \rtaffy pull.

3. Make your favorite taffy recipe.

The process of making taffy can be a little tricky for \ryoung ones. I suggest making the taffy yourself, and after \rthe candy has cooled, call in the kids to start the pulling.

Here¡¯s a classic recipe for saltwater taffy. Try it!

3/4 cup water\r2 cups sugar\r1 1/4 cups corn syrup\r2 tablespoons butter\rFlavoring and coloring as desired\r1 teaspoon salt

Measure 2 cups sugar, l 1/4 cups corn syrup, 3/4 cup water,\r1 teaspoon salt into a saucepan and blend well with a wooden \rspoon. Place over low heat until sugar has dissolved, \rstirring continuously. Increase the heat and do not stir \rduring the rest of the cooking. Wash the sides of the pan \rwith a brush or fork covered with muslin and dipped in \rwater, using an upward motion. This will prevent the \rformation of crystals which might cause the candy to sugar. \rAfter the syrup boils put in the candy thermometer, and when\rthe thermometer registers 265 degrees, remove candy from \rheat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and stir very gently. Divide \rthe taffy into three parts; you¡¯ll add different flavors \rand coloring to each one during the pulling process.

4. Prepare the little ones.

First, have everyone wash his or her hands with lots of \rsoap and warm water. Then, let them grease their hands \rgenerously with a stick of unsalted butter to prevent the \rfresh taffy from sticking to fingers. Don¡¯t use vegetable \roil or margarine for this step¡ªthe flavor when mixed with \rtaffy isn¡¯t nearly as good as real butter.

5. Let the pulling begin!

Once the taffy has cooled enough to handle, it¡¯s time to \rstart pulling. Instruct your partygoers to use only their \rfingertips to lift the edges of the warm, flowing candy up, \rand then to pull out about 12 inches. Then, they¡¯ll quickly \rfold the taffy back from the one hand to the other, catching \rthe center, and then pulling again.

If you¡¯re adding food coloring and flavoring, pause briefly\rafter a few pulls to add a drop or two to the mixture, \rfolding the mixture over on the color and flavor. Try using \rraspberry flavor with red coloring, lemon flavor with \ryellow coloring, and vanilla flavor with no coloring. \rContinue to pull until the color and flavor are thoroughly \rmixed in.

6. Wrap it up.

When your taffy is very hard to pull and holds its shape \rwhen laid out on a platter, it¡¯s ready to cut into pieces. \rRub a pair of kitchen scissors with unsalted butter, and \rthen cut the hardened taffy into bite-size pieces. Have the \rkids wrap the pieces in candy wrappers, twisting each end. \r(You can also use wax paper or colored plastic wrap.)

Now you can fill small baggies with the taffy, and send \reach child home with their own homemade party favor!

***********************************************************\rVanessa Kirkland is publisher of the cherished recipe\rcollection, "Candymaking Secrets," by Virginia Pasley. This\rlong-lost collection includes 67 vintage recipes for making\rdelicious old-fashioned candies at home . . . without a\rsingle cooking class. Find out more at ===>

http://www.CandyMakingSecrets.com/\r***********************************************************