Popcorn Balls

By Wendy Kennedy

Compared to most snack foods, popcorn is low in calories. Air- popped popcorn has only 30 calories per cup. If you oil-pop it the calorie count is 55/cup. Even lightly drizzled with butter, it's only 90-120 calories per cup. Popcorn is also a source of high- quality carbohydrates and high in fiber (or, put simply, it takes longer to chew and makes you feel full longer!). So - go ahead - treat yourself (guilt free) to a bowl of popcorn.

And when you're looking for a special treat - make popcorn balls! There's a few more calories but, oh my, they do taste good!

~ Caramel Popcorn Balls ~

1/3 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup corn syrup

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

10 cups popped popcorn

Melt the butter in a soup pot. Add corn syrup, brown sugar, and vanilla. Stir & bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add popcorn & mix in. Put waxed paper on your countertop. Form popcorn balls and lay on wax paper to harden. Makes about a dozen balls.

These stay fairly soft (a little easier on the teeth!).

~ Popcorn Balls ~

10 cups popped popcorn

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup water

2/3 cup molasses

1 tsp. vinegar

1/4 tsp. salt

3 tbs. butter or margarine

Put sugar, water, molasses, vinegar and salt into a pot. Heat & stir until it starts to boil. Boil gently, without stirring, until it reaches the hard ball stage. Remove from heat. Add butter/margarine. Pour over popcorn in a large bowl. Mix until popcorn is coated with syrup. Form into balls. Makes 12 - 15 popcorn balls.

Hard ball stage is 270F or when you drop a bit in cold water and it forms a hard ball.

~ Colored Popcorn Balls ~

12 cups popped popcorn

1.5 oz flavored gelatin (any color jello powder)

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

Put gelatin, sugar & syrup into a pot. Heat & stir to dissolve. Bring to a rolling boil. Pour over popcorn in a large bowl (you can lightly salt popcorn first if you like). Stir until all popcorn is coated. Form into balls with lightly buttered hands (I spray with Pam!). Makes about a dozen popcorn balls.

Use whatever color suits the occasion. For Halloween use orange jello. You can put `faces' on your popcorn balls with candy. For Christmas make a bowl full of red & green balls. For Easter use pastel colors.

Visit Wendy online @ http://www.canadiancountrygifts.com

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