Coffee Break

Ok peoples, I know you all don't drink coffee but everyone takes a break right?? And what better for a break than popcorn balls? I have a recipe that's definitely vintage courtesy of a childhood neighbor lady. She'd make them for Halloween and it was the only homemade treat my mother would let us eat.

Andrea has a picture of a perfect popcorn ball on her blog along with her recipe and she inspired me to share mine.

1 cup brown sugar firmly packed

1 tablespoon white sugar

1/3 cup light corn syrup

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup butter

Cook in a heavy pan till soft ball stage.

Yup, that's my whole recipe.

Here's where Andrea is so far ahead of me, she give the temperature you cook it to.. my recipe is clearly old-skool. I use my mother's technique for testing, I keep a small bowl of ice water next to the stove and when the syrup looks thick and a thread comes off the spoon when you pull it out it's ready to start testing. I like to test about a thousand times because it's so good. When you pour a spoonful of candy into the ice water it will form a little ball if you nudge it a bit. That's when you know it's ready.

I make a big big bowl of air pop corn to pour the syrup over. It will be a nice caramel color and crazy hot and sticky so be careful. I stir stir stir with a slotted spoon till there's candy on all of it. After letting it slightly cool, spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray and form into balls. They're so yummy.

Ok break is over, time to get back to sewing. Have a happy day peoples! Can you stand it, almost 2009!