2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4  teaspoon peppermint extract or other flavoring
food coloring if desired

In a 2-quart saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, water and salt.  Stir constantly as you cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves.  Butter the sides of the pan as it cooks.  Continue cooking on medium heat WITHOUT STIRRING for 40 minutes or until it reaches the hard ball stage (265 degrees).

At that time, remove the heat and stir in butter, flavoring, and food coloring.  Butter a 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan and pour in mixture, allowing it to cool about 25 minutes or until you can handle it. 

Now comes the fun part!  With well-buttered hands, pull taffy until it is difficult to pull.  Cut this piece into fourths, then pull each piece into a long strand, 1/2 inch thick.  Cut taffy into bite-size pieces with buttered scissors or a sharp, buttered knife, and wrap in waxed paper.  Makes 1-1/2 pounds.