For Ace's class treat this year, I made popcorn balls. My boys love them but it's not something I make often, usually only around this time of year, so they always look forward to munching on them.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/3 cups water
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 18 cups popped corn

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, water, syrup, vinegar, and salt.
2. Cook over high heat until mixture reaches 255 degrees F (hard-ball stage) on a candy thermometer.
3. Stir in vanilla.
4. Pour over popped corn, tossing gently to coat.
5. When mixture is cool enough to handle, press popcorn into 3-inch balls with lightly greased hands.
6. Cool completely on waxed paper.
7. Can add food coloring, if desired.

I also remember my mom wrapping them up to look like Christmas ornaments!She would wrap them tightly in waxed paper, followed by the tissue paper (like I did in the first photo). Then she would cut the paper and take a piece of ribbon and poke through it with a toothpick into the top of each ball. They were always so cute! I didn't have time to do that this year, but thought I'd share the idea in case you do!Enjoy!!