The Flight Deck

Thanks for the kind inquiries about my Jello popcorn, I made up 75 baggies for the troop boxes this week, and finally, toward the end, figured out the best way to do it, isn’t that always the way?  But for those who just want to make one batch, the recipe follows. 

I made this for the MSG when he was deployed the first time, with just one batch of popcorn.  The silly man ate the whole thing at one sitting, and promptly got such a sugar buzz he was dizzy and off-kilter all day.  To say nothing of how hard it is to get off your teeth….warning, you’ll spend all day “sucking” if you try this! 

Jello Popcorn (for balls, or loose popcorn for shipping)

1 3oz. box Jello gelatin, you choose the flavor

1 cup corn syrup

1 cup white sugar

Mix these ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a rolling boil.  Stir regularly at first, constantly when it gets hot (scorched sugar is not nice.)  While stirring, make one batch of popcorn for the really sticky, candy balls, or, as I prefer, 3-4 batches.  Heap popcorn together on an easy-to-clean surface which will not be hurt by extremely hot syrup.  A large roaster works nice if you’re making balls, but if you’re tossing it (like I do to ship) a kitchen table (formica?) works well.  DO NOT line with waxed paper (syrup sticks and can’t be peeled off) or tinfoil or other substances. 

Pour a thin stream of the hot syrup onto the popcorn, while an assistant takes two large spatulas (pancake turners, for those who call rubber scrapers, spatulas!) and stirs the popcorn around so the syrup is caught and rolled into the popcorn, rather than pooling underneath, on your surface.  Keep mixing until thoroughly blended.  You CAN butter your hands and shape into balls, but I always get burnt.  Someone who is used to making homemade popcorn balls would be good at this…not me! 

This weekend, I made double batches of popcorn, heaped them on said kitchen table, and poured first red Jello (strawberry or raspberry) then, when that had colored about 1/2 the popcorn, did a batch of blue syrup, and came up with a nicely red-white-and blue treat.  And there was probably less syrup on the popcorn than I usually have, but at least the poor boys (and girls) won’t have sugar highs, and be sucking it out of their teeth all day!  Hopefully it was good, the MSG hasn’t tried his. 

Cleanup isn’t as bad as it sounds, IF you have lots of hot water and a little patience.  Let the hot water sit for a few (although dried syrup peels right off formica!)  and if it’s still tacky, a little longer.  Also, a little water in the saucepan, heated nicely, will help clean that.  Unless you are messy, like me, it shouldn’t be bad–although I always have to sweep up half a batch of popcorn off the floor if tossing with a teen-aged helper!  (The teen gets to pour the syrup, and clumsy me, I toss!) 

Enjoy! 

doorkeeper