Popcorn Balls [adult supervision for younger children]
Submitted by: Mary K. - Texas
5 quarts popcorn, popped
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Keep popped corn hot and crisp in oven (300 - 325 F). Butter sides of saucepan. In it combine sugar, water, salt, corn syrup, and vinegar. Cook to hard-stage (250 F). Add vanilla. Pour slowly over hot popped corn, mixing well to coat every kernel. Press into balls (butter hands if necessary). Try not to burn your hands.
A tip from kitchen guest: Jerry Rusch
Instead of buttering our hands, we have a bowl of cold water in which we wet our hands to
keep the syrup from sticking and it also helps insulate from the hot syrup.
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