POPCORN BALLS

1 1/2 teaspoons butter
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup sugar
6 cups popcorn, lightly salted

1. Melt the butter in a heavy pan.

2. Add the molasses and sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Boil without stirring to the hard-ball stage (290 degrees).

3. Have the popcorn ready in a large bowl.

4. Slowly pour the syrup over the popcorn, stirring so that every kernel is coated.

5. Butter your hands with soft butter or margarine.

6. Shape the popcorn by hand into balls as soon as it is cool enough to handle. Set the balls on wax paper to cool further and harden.

7. Wrap the cooled popcorn balls individually in wax paper or colored cellophane. Tie with ribbons.