popcorn balls and my aunt bes

recently, i’ve had a hankerin’ to make popcorn balls. my great aunt bes used to make them with me and my sister when we were little and it was such a sticky mess, but they always tasted so good and it was kind of fun to have permission to get all sticky. but popcorn balls are a treat for sharing–you can’t eat a whole batch in one sitting (your mouth will fall to pieces!) and they’re really best when eaten fresh–the same day they’re made. so when “boggle night” happened at a friend’s house this weekend, i decided it was the perfect chance to share this yummy treat!
here’s the recipe (which i have in my recipe book on a piece of paper in her handwriting–making it all the more precious to me):

“marshmallow popcorn balls

pop corn and then measure out 8 quarts out into a very large kettle or pan. while corn is popping, melt one package of marshmallows and one stick of butter or margarine together in top of double boiler. stir frequently. pour over popped corn & stir well to mix. then wet hands with water and mold into large or small balls. you may add tint to this if you wish. makes about 24 medium balls. good luck!”
they’re really just rice krispie treats but with popcorn (making them a whole grain treat!). i chose to pop my corn* and melt my butter and marshmallows in the microwave (something aunt bes would never have done**), but i did follow her “wet hands” instructions and my hands stayed (mostly) un-sticky.

now if only i had her recipe for canned meatballs… (don’t laugh–they were surprisingly delicious! she canned e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g!)

*did you know that you could pop regular ol’ loose popcorn kernels in the microwave? just put them into a paper lunch bag, fold the top down and be sure to listen carefully to prevent burning. no massive overloads of butter and no hot air popcorn popper cluttering up your cupboards!

**for her 90th birthday, the family decided to pool resources to buy her a really nice microwave (she didn’t have one), but she didn’t want a microwave (she’d gotten by for 90 years without one–why would she need one now?). instead, she wanted a “tulsa tv.” she had moved from oklahoma city to a small town about an hour outside of tulsa a few years before that and ever since she moved, her tv didn’t get very good reception. she figured it was because it was an oklahoma city tv. so, we returned her microwave and got her a newer television with a stronger reception–her “tulsa tv.”

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