Seasonal Sensations: Popcorn Balls

POPCORN BALLS!!! One of my favorite things to eat and make! You see lots of different variations, but they all have the same basic ingredients. It's up to you to add in what you want to give it a little character! Popcorn balls make a great gift for teachers, bus drivers, friends and neighbors. From when I was six years old, I made these with my mom and sister. It's simple enough to make for a kindergartener to help but fun enough for the whole family!

Picture Courtesy of Martha Stewart 

Ingredients:

• 16 cups popped popcorn

• 1 1/2 cups sugar

• 1 1/2 cups light corn syrup

• 2 tsp white vinegar

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 4 tbsp salted butter

• 1 cup M&Ms

Directions:

1. Pour the popcorn into a large bowl

2. Line a large baking sheet with wax paper

3. Combine sugar, corn syrup and vinegar in a sauce pan over medium or high heat (stir until sugar dissolves)

4. Cook without stirring for 12-15 minutes, then remove from heat

5. Quickly stir in vanilla and butter until the butter is completely melted

6. Pour mixture over the popcorn and stir it in to completely coat popcorn

7. Let it sit for 3 minutes, stirring every once in a while

8. Form the mixture into 12 balls

------------- this is where I add my own creativity-------------------

9. Press 6-10 M&Ms around each ball to add some color and chocolate flavor

10. Let them cool at room temperature for a while until eating or packaging

You can do so many things to change this recipe up a little bit. For example, because Halloween is coming up in a few weeks, you could all candy corn! http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2013/10/popcorn-balls/You can also add food coloring at the same time you combine the sugar, corn syrup and vinegar which is cute around christmas time. As one final tip, I like to put the balls in cupcake holders just to make the presentation better, and to make it a little easier to package and eat.

Enjoy!