For this simple gift, I am using a recipe I got from one of my favourite romance authors, Sheila Seabrook. Poppycock (or candied popcorn) is fun to make. Buy some festive tins at the Dollar Store and fill them with this treat!
Here’s how to make it:
Pop enough popcorn to make
- 8 cups of popped popcorn
Heat oven to 300 degrees.
Using an ungreased cookie sheet, spread
- 1 cup pecan halves
- 1 cup whole unblanched almonds
Toast lightly.
Now mix the nuts and popcorn together in a large bowl.
In a heavy saucepan, combine
- 1 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup margarine
- 1/2 cup golden corn syrup
- 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
Stirring constantly, cook until the mixture forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water. This should take about five minutes.
Remove from the stove and stir in
- 1/2 tsp. soda
- 1 tsp. Vanilla
Careful! The soda can make the mixture foam!
Now pour this goo over the popcorn and nuts and stir with a wooden spoon, until it’s all mixed up. Let the mix cool a bit, stirring occasionally to keep it broken apart. Then spread it out on cookie sheets, and let it cool more, and break it apart. Might as well let it cool overnight. Then fill your tins, and another simple gift is ready to go.
poppycock from photos.com #184002805