Whew!! Were did the past 3 weeks go???? Christmas with it's visits and cooking and everything else passed sooo fast, and now we are over a week into the new year!
I had a post started where I was going to give you the recipes for some of my "must makes" foe every Christmas. Life happened, and all I did was get some photos posted. For anyone who may have popped by and found some odd photos, here is what they go to, even though the holidays are over, these treats are great any time, especially in the winter. Here is the recipe for my popcorn, this would be great packed in a pretty tin for Valentine's Day.
I ALWAYS have to make my Molasses Popcorn– My Dad's favorite each year. I try to disguise it by packaging it and wrapping it differently each year- He usually guesses, but some years he gets it open without knowing 🙂 The first photo shows one of my roaster pans full.
The popcorn is coated with a mixture of brown sugar, molasses, butter, and more. When I make this, I don't always keep strictly to the measurements listed, and will add extra molasses and corn syrup, and use more popcorn. With some playing, you may find you want more heavily coated popcorn. The recipe is for my large batch- You may only want to do half to start.
Sue's Molasses Popcorn Recipe:
10 quarts of plain air popped popcorn- no salt or butter
1 cup butter
1 cup molasses- regular (if the dark or "robust" is used the end result is darker, but still good)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 Tablespoons cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter
1 teaspoon baking soda
2-4 cups Peanuts or other nuts (optional- see notes below)
Preheat oven to 250 F. Pop corn, and place half in each of the roasting pans (I use more popcorn sometimes, too).
Sprinkle nuts over the popcorn in one or both pans- 2 cups or more in each. Plain peanuts or mixed nuts- whatever you like best, more if you really like nuts. I don't like nuts, so I only put nuts in one pan and leave one without.
Place butter, brown sugar, molasses, corn syrup, vinegar, and cream of tarter in a 5 quart or larger heavy bottom pan. I usually use a bit extra of the molasses and corn syrup, depending on the day- Place over high heat and stir with a heavy wooden spoon until butter is melted and sugar dissolves. Place a candy thermometer in the mixture, and allow it to boil rapidly until it comes to 250 F. Remove pan from heat.(The temperature will rise some after taking pan off heat) Add the baking soda and stir rapidly until well mixed and foaming.
Carefully pour half of the mixture over each pan of popcorn, gently stir to coat popcorn with candy mixture. Do this quickly, and Be Careful of the hot mixture, it can burn your hands.
Place both pans in preheated oven. The photo above shows both pans in my oven- a tight fit- they will fit better in a newer full size oven. Heat in the oven stirring occasionally until the candy coating the popcorn hardens to a crispy texture when cooled. I usually stir after the first 20 minutes, and again 15-30 min after that. Stirring will help to evenly coat the popcorn, and will separate the kernels. After an hour or so, place a few pieces in a small bowl to cool.
The popcorn is done when it is no longer sticky when cool. (Yes, you will have to sample this as it is made- I eat way too much when I make it- done when it doesn't stick to your teeth) When your sample pieces are at that stage, remove one pan at a time from the oven, stirring constantly, breaking up and separating the kernels from each other. Once cool they will no longer stick together. Allow to cool completely and store in airtight plastic bags or containers. I line tins with plastic bags. This will keep for a long time if not eaten right away, but it doesn't last too long around here. The closeup photo shows how it should look when done.
I will share my recipes for my hot fudge sauce and sugar cookies in another post. Both are great any time of year.
And now the family photos:
From L-R: Maia, Me, Ken, Marla, Derek, Zack, Aaron holding Jenna. In front- Jackie, Eva and Andrue. Derek, Maia, Eva, and Ally are Marla's kids(Marla is only 5 yrs younger than me). It is pretty odd seeing a grandson taller than my sons (Zack was slouching, too). Derek is between my 2 youngest in age. Our Daughter-in-law, Jonelle took this photo.
I will be slowly catching up here. I have been cleaning and organizing my studio and making pretty good progress!
I am a former textile artist and new pattern designer with a degree in horticulture, wishing to share my love of nature, flowers and gardens with everyone through my photos, sunprinted fabrics, and now pattern designs. Chronic Lyme Disease has caused major changes to the direction my life. I have to limit the amount of time spent digging in my gardens, and quilting has become more difficult. I discovered pattern design as a way to get art back into my life. I now use my gardens and photos to inspire designs that can be used on fabrics and print on demand items.
