| The winter holidays always bring images of | | | | no matter how these treats got started, |
| popcorn to mind. Whether you are stringing it up | | | | Americans sure do love to eat them. Luckily, they |
| on the tree or eating it out of a festive popcorn | | | | are readily available for purchase but are also |
| tin at Grandma's, it is definitely an American | | | | fairly easy to make at home. |
| comfort food that is a warm treat during cold | | | | How do you make popcorn balls? |
| weather. One of the most popular forms of | | | | There are many different ways to create the |
| popcorn eaten during the holiday season is the | | | | sticky treat. You can make them with simple |
| popcorn ball-- some people would even say that | | | | syrup for a kettle corn-like popcorn ball or with |
| they are a popular holiday food because you can | | | | caramel for an even stickier treat. Here's the |
| eat them or use them as a Christmas ornament. | | | | easiest and quickest way to whip up some |
| Although for most Americans popcorn balls are | | | | popcorn balls on short notice. |
| associated with winter, according to legend they | | | | 1. Pop a bowl of popcorn in the microwave or on |
| got their start during the summer. | | | | the stove. |
| Where did the idea for popcorn balls come from? | | | | 2. Melt 26 caramel candies with 2 teaspoons of |
| If you believe Nebraskan myth, popcorn balls just | | | | water in the microwave or on a double-boiler. |
| happened naturally. On a hot and rainy summer | | | | 3. Pour the candy over your popcorn. |
| day, legend has it that two Nebraska fields were | | | | 4. Mix gently and form into balls. |
| experiencing different extremes in weather. In a | | | | 5. Place the balls on a cookie sheet or wax paper |
| field where sugar cane was growing, the crop | | | | to cool and harden. |
| was being treated to a deluge of warm rain. Next | | | | You can also decorate the treats with sprinkles, |
| door, a corn field was in direct sunlight being | | | | add food coloring for assorted colors of balls, or |
| scorched by the summer sun. The rain washed | | | | form them around popsicle sticks to provide a |
| the sugar cane downhill toward the neighboring | | | | convenient way to eat the sticky suckers. You |
| cornfield, where the heat was so blistering that | | | | can also add nuts, chocolate or candy to the mix, |
| the corn was popping off the stalks! The syrupy | | | | for variety. |
| sugar cane washed over the exploding corn | | | | No matter how you choose to prepare your |
| kernels, rolling it into balls as it went. But then, | | | | popcorn balls, have fun preparing them! They are |
| grasshoppers ate all of the balls, so the farmers | | | | an American holiday tradition that has been in |
| were forced to try to recreate the | | | | families for generations and is sure to stick |
| phenomenon-- making the snack we know now! | | | | around. |
| Obviously, this is myth is pretty far fetched. But | | | | |