Halloween and Homemade Candy

With Halloween approaching I remember back to some of my favorite times of "trick or treating",  and they all revolved around getting the best candy.  Of course back then when things were safe, and everyone was trusted, we preferred homemade candy to the store bought.

We could get Snicker Bars and Baby Ruths all through out the year...but homemade candy and treats were reserved for holidays with Halloween being the King of Get Candy days.  It was the only day that you could eat all the candy you wanted, without being told, "That's enough, you are going to make yourself sick"....which we did sometimes.  But after all how many times does an eight year old have a bag full of so much chocolate at their disposal. 

Not only did we remember the houses that had given homemade candy and treats the year before...we actually got together and compared notes with the other kids as to which houses were on their list.  Between us, we made the rounds.  Sometimes we were disappointed when time had been a factor, and one of our favorite treaters had dropped tootsie rolls instead of last years candied apples in the bag.  Yes Candy apples were big, as well as popcorn balls.  

Speaking of pop corn balls, this was my Mothers treat some years.  They were colored with orange food coloring and had stick candy inserted in them so you ate them like a candied apple.

She sometimes would include peanuts in the mix, and many years later "Fiddle Faddle" used the same ingredients in their concoction.  For those of you who have not had "Fiddle Faddle" it is a popcorn ball left loose in a box.  All the ingredients including the syrup, popcorn, nuts, vanilla, but not shaped in a ball.  Use to be in a red box.  I am not sure they still make it...if anyone knows let me know.

Since times have changed and we no longer let our children eat homemade goodies from our neighbors...who we don't know, we all check to make sure the Hershey bars, bubble gum, and such has not been tampered with before we allow the chomping down.

Still this month I will start posting candy and homemade treat recipes in celebration of days gone by.  You can make them up for your family and friends.  Some of you may want to keep the recipes and use them during the upcoming Holidays and maybe give some at Christmas. 

These are old recipes from my Mothers collection, and some from my Grandmothers.  I will start with  the Pop Corn Balls.  They are fun for the little ones to help make and can make a great Halloween decoration.

HELON'S HALLOWEEN POP CORN BALLS

1 CUP SUGAR                                               

1/3 CUP WHITE CORN SYRUP

1/3 CUP OF WATER

1/4 CUP BUTTER

1/2 TEASPOON SALT

1 TEASPOON VINEGAR

1 TEASPOON VANILLA

3 QUARTS POPPED CORN

ORANGE FOOD COLORING(OPTIONAL)

1 1/2 CUPS OF SALTED PEANUTS (OPTIONAL)

 

Combine sugar , syrup, water, butter, vinegar, food coloring, and salt.  Cooke, stirring until sugar is dissolved.  Continue cooking without stirring until syrup reaches 270 degrees or forms a brittle ball when dropped in cold water.  Add vanilla.  Pour syrup over popped corn,(and nuts) stirring until all kernels are covered.  Grease hands with butter and shape into balls.  Makes 12.  Do not double recipe.  Best to make in small batches since you are working against the syrup hardening.

You can form this around a Tootsie Roll Pop leaving the stick out to form a stem for the ball.  It is also a nice surprise  after you eat the ball.

You can color these any color you choose.  We did orange and green for the Holiday colors...once year we tried black not very pretty, but tasted fine.

Hope you enjoy. Next Post is Red Candy Apples