Pumpkins and Popcorn Balls

Fall is here and the leaves are starting to turn to beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow. This season is one of the biggest reasons Joe and I decided to leave sunny Southern California and trek back to the Midwest.
Halloween is, of course, my favorite holiday and I have many, many fond Halloween memories, but one of my most favorite was when Josh, my Brother-in- law, lived with us in Claremont. It was 2000, and lets see.... I was 25 and he was 21. We made these amazing faerie masks and wings, and trick-or-treated for hours. We were sooooo popular! We cleaned house in the candy dept!! It was very apparent that no one cared a bit that we towered over all of the other trick-or-treaters!

So, last night Rowan went to the corn maze with her Aunt Dana and Uncle Ritchie. They came back and carved pumpkins for her and her little man Cael. I stayed behind and made popcorn balls, it was my first attempt, and they turned out great. Here is the recipe:

Popcorn Balls

• 1 c. unpopped popcorn
• 1 1/4 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. light corn syrup
• 3 T. unsalted butter
• 1/2 c. water

Pop popcorn ahead of time. White is best, salt to taste. You may substitute 2 bags of microwave popcorn, I recommend lightly salted with little or no butter.

Boil sugar, water, syrup, and butter until it forms hairlike threads ( about 8 to 10 minutes or 290 degrees with a candy thermometer)

Spread popcorn out in a roasting pan. Drizzle hot mixture evenly over popcorn and mix it all up with a wooden spoon. Work fast as mixture turns hard as it cools.Butter hands generously to avoid sticky hands and being burned. Work very quickly to shape popcorn balls much like you would make a snowball. Wrap balls in waxed paper and twist ends tightly!

Makes 8-10 popcorn balls