As I was searching through some archived newspapers the other day, I stumbled across two traditional recipes for an old fashioned Christmas.

These recipes were printed in one of the 1938 December editions of the Galion Inquirer. I copied the recipes for my own future use, and then realized that perhaps more folks would like to have a chance to make them.

The two things I appreciate about these recipes, and think you will too, is that they are made of easy to find ingredients. Check your cupboards, you probably have all of the ingredients on hand!

photo courtesy of KraftRecipes.com

Pop Corn Ball Recipe

5 quarts popped corn
2 c sugar
1 ½ c water
½ c white corn syrup
1/3 tsp salt
1 tsp vinegar
1 Tb vanilla

Put perfect kernels in a large pan. Boil sugar, water and corn syrup without stirring until it cracks when tried in cold water (260 degrees). Add vinegar, salt and vanilla and boil to 264 degrees. Pour slowly over corn, stirring and turning with a spoon to coat each kernel evenly. Make into balls, let stand in cold place until brittle wrap in wax paper.

Molasses Taffy Recipe 

1 c molasses
1 c sugar
¼ c water
1 tsp vinegar
2 Tb butter

Mix molasses, sugar, water and vinegar in a saucepan and heat slowly until sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly. Boil mixture to 247 degrees add butter and cook slowly to 260 degrees or until the mixture forms a very had ball when tried in cold water. Pour hot mixture into butter shallow pan and allow mixture to cool undisturbed until it may be handled comfortably. Pull until it has a satiny finish and is quite elastic. Pull into cylinders, about 1/3 inch in diameter; mark into 1 inch lengths with heavy scissors. When candy becomes hard, break into pieces and wrap in waxed paper.

Make it a meal: Â If you have invited the friends and family over to help make these two goodies, just serve some hot cocoa or coffee and snack on the results of your labor.

In fact, I would suggest including the entire family in the making of these recipes. Popcorn balls and hand pulled taffy are a fair amount of work, but the work seems more like fun when shared with a crowd.

The best thing about using an old fashioned recipe like these is that you can use the chance to ask older members of the family about traditions they remember. When they tell the stories, the younger generations learn about the family history. Too often the traditions get lost over time, as we adapt to more convenient practices.

If you are not interested in making popcorn balls or pulled taffy, perhaps your family has another recipe that has traditionally been made. Pull that recipe out of the cupboard and assemble the ingredients. Arranged for the family to gather in the kitchen and have fun putting the dish together.

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