When the kids were still little this used to be a family fun thing to do. We did it often during the cold weather months. We all loved to eat them as well. We made kind of a game out of it. Everyone sat at the kitchen table unwrapping the little squares of caramels until they were all done. Then we each in turn counted out our wrappers in front of the others. Who ever had the most empty wrappers got to help make the balls. This included "taste testing" privileges and the winner also got to eat the first ball. It was a lot of fun. we were all laughing and trying to steal each others wrappers.

"Look out the window at that 3 legged cat in the yard!" anybody dumb enough to look would lose a few wrappers.

Every year lately I vow to make some popcorn balls but I never do get around to it. Well THIS year I was determined to "git 'er done" and I did. It wasn't as much fun for me because I had to unwrap 4 lbs of caramel squares by myself but I just focused on how good they were gonna be when I got done. I also had forgotten about keeping the cold water running and occasionally putting my hands in there to cool down the hot molten caramel stuck to them.

This is a time consuming and messy process. If you have a couple of "volunteers" around that will help you it goes a lot easier but you will still be left with a huge mess. Solidified caramel stuck to the bowl the spoons, the walls, your face and shirt front and dribbling down the front of the stove.

Anyway I thought there may be some adventurous types that would give it a whirl so here's the recipe....and good luck to ya!

WJ's Stick-to-the-Walls popcorn balls

You will need:
.The 2 biggest metal, plastic or glass bowls you have
.A couple of big metal or plastic spoons. Do not use any wooden bowls or utensils. If you do you will see why it's a poor idea
.A double boiler or a large non-stick sauce pan that covers the largest burner on your stove top
.1 1/2 cups of un popped popcorn
.1 stick of real butter (1/4 lb)
.4 bags of Kraft individually wrapped caramel squares
.Salt to taste

This recipe makes about 20 softball size popcorn balls.

Note: You can use a double boiler but I just do it the other way cause I don't have one. You just need to be careful and not use too high a heat under it.

I set the sauce pan on the burner and put it on the lowest temp. Then I put a whole stick of butter in the pan. Then I start unwrapping the squares of caramel and dropping them in the pan. As soon as the butter is all melted you can bump up the temp a couple of notches. As you drop the squares into the pan make sure they all go to the bottom until the bottom is completely covered. Stir the pot occasionally to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom.

Continue unwrapping the squares until they are all in the pan. Give it a good stir and bump up the heat a couple more notches. Now you are ready to pop the corn. Come back and stir the pan often. Burnt caramel is a real show stopper.

I quit using microwave popcorn years ago. I dunno, it just had a "canned" taste for me so I went back to the old fashioned way. Put some popcorn in a pan, put some oil in it and shake it over the stove top until it quits popin'. If you use the microwave stuff in the bags I don't know how much to tell you to use. Just use a "whole bunch" and you'll be fine. Salt the popcorn to taste before you mix with the caramel

I use two large bowls. I put popcorn in one till it is about 2/3 full (this will be the mixing bowl) and put the rest in the other bowl and add to the mixing bowl as you go. When the caramels have melted thoroughly pour it liberally over the popcorn in the mixing bowl. BE SURE to run your hands under the cold tap water before you start mixing. take one of the spoons and start stirring it all together. It is awkward but just stay with it and you'll get it done. When you have it fairly well mixed put your hands in and start gathering up the (hopefully) evenly coated popcorn and press it into a ball.

Keep going and adding popcorn from the other bowl and caramel from the pan until you have it all made into WJ's Stick-To-The-Walls Popcorn Balls.

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Real men love cats!

I gotta try this I like popcorn balls and they just don't make them like they once did. Home brewed sounds great thanks.

When I had the teeth that I could eat them.



WuzzFuzz

Where did that 3 legged cat go?

I couldn't tell ya. I was busy grabbin' me some a them wrappers.

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Real men love cats!

1 1/2 cups of UNPOPPED popcorn? That must really make a LOT! You'd have to do a couple of dozen microwave bags to make that much.

I like 'Pop Secret' Home Style microwave popcorn. It is very close to the real thing. Orville Redenbacher's is one of the worst.

Anyway, sounds really yummy. I'll double up on the insulin dose so I can eat it.

My neighbor's father used to make the best I ever tasted 50 years ago. He homemade the candy for them and popped the corn in one of those old-fashioned copper poppers, the ones with the long handle for holding over the fire in the fireplace. He used white popcorn too, which seems to be hard to find now.

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noli illegitimi carborundum

My grandmother used Karo syrup as a binder. They would sure clean out any loose teeth. Around here I see people make Rice Crispy treats but the popcorn ball is rather rare. Anyone use food coloring to make them Christmas colored?