oscar and alma's popcorn balls

Oscar and Alma were my paternal grandparents, my dad's mom and dad.  They made popcorn balls each Christmas along with a bunch of other--mostly Norwegian--goodies.  My grandmother would load up her popcorn balls into a large red shortening tin each year.  I have one of her tins.

This is her recipe for popcorn balls.  

Oscar and Alma's popcorn balls

5 quarts popped corn

3/4 cup corn syrup

2 Tbsp water

1/4 cup butter

2 1/4 cup confectioners sugar

1 cup marshmallows

Use a large bowl for the popped corn.  In heavy pan combine all but the popped corn and boil over low heat.  Immediately pour over popped corn and mix to coat all popped corn.  Wet hands with cold water and form into balls.  Should make 12 good sized balls or more smaller ones.  Wet hands several times as needed during the forming of the balls. 

chex mix

We make chex mix every Christmas.  Perhaps I am stuck in a rut but I always make the original.  I buy the cereal and the mixed nuts but often forget to get the pretzels and other add ins.  So ours is just cereal and nuts most years.  This year I used a can of mixed nuts and a bag of Spanish peanuts as that is what I had on hand and I usually make a double batch.

Chex mix

6 cups corn chex

6 cups rice chex

6 cups wheat chex

1 container mixed nuts

1 bag Spanish peanuts

12 tbsp butter (1 1/2 sticks)

4 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbsp seasoned salt

1 1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

Combine the cereal and nuts in a large bowl.  Melt the butter and add the seasonings.  Pour over the cereal and mix well.  Pour the cereal mixture into a roasting pan and bake at 250° for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes.  Pour onto paper towels to cool.

cooling  chex mix

 

puppy chow

We first found this recipe for puppy chow in a church cookbook.  Although it sounds like it is a dog treat it is really people food.  Similar recipes with different names are prevalent now.  We always make the original.  It is quickly put together and requires only a few ingredients and the first two on the list do not even need to be measured.

Puppy chow

12 oz box of Crispix cereal

12 oz package of milk chocolate chips

1 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup butter

3 cups confectioners sugar

In microwave or stove top melt chocolate chips with peanut butter and butter.  Pour over cereal and stir gently until all pieces are coated.  Pour coated cereal into a brown paper grocery bag and shake with the confectioners sugar until evenly mixed.  Pour onto parchment paper or waxed paper to cool.

 

caramel puffcorn

One of the snacks that we make each Christmas is caramel puffcorn.  We use the Old Dutch Puffcorn and the recipe comes from the back of the package.  It goes together fairly quickly--a few ingredients melted together on top of the stove and poured over the puffcorn in a big bowl.  Stir until all the pieces are coated and then transfer to two parchment lined baking sheets and bake for 45 minutes.  At the end of 45 minutes pour onto parchment or wax paper to cool.  Break apart any large pieces once it is cool.

Caramel puffcorn

1 9 oz package Old Dutch Puffcorn

1 cup (2 sticks) butter (not margarine)

1 1/4 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup white corn syrup

1 tsp baking soda

Place the puffcorn in a large bowl or large roaster.  Combine the butter, brown sugar and corn syrup in a large saucepan.  Heat over medium heat until melted.  Stir in the baking soda.  The mixture will foam and lighten in color.  Pour over the puffcorn and stir until thoroughly combined.  Transfer to parchment lined baking sheets or a large roaster.  Bake at 250° for 45 minutes stirring every 15 minutes.  Pour onto parchment or waxed paper to cool and break apart any large pieces.

puffcorn bagged up into single servings