When I was growing up in the 1950s, Halloween was one of my favorite holidays. Adult supervision wasn't necessary. We struck out on our own, going up and down neighborhood streets, usually wearing a costume created from our parents' clothes or old sheets and carrying a paper Halloween bag. We would knock on one door after another, shouting "Trick or treat!" when the homeowner opened the door and grab a handful of goodies from a big bowl. There was no fear of homemade treats or loose candy, no examining our loot when we got home.
My mom usually made popcorn balls wrapped in wax paper to give out to trick-or-treaters, and we always hoped there would be several left over. If I were lucky enough to receive a caramel apple, I'd start eating it immediately and arrive home blissfully sticky.
Here's wishing you a sweet Halloween!
 |
Trick or Treat bag
alphaville.com |
YUM!! Happy Halloween to you Dana! Popcorn balls sound delicious!! xx
ReplyDeleteThey sure do...and a LOT more delicious than what I'm making for Saturday! haha
DeleteOh, now I want some sweets! Is candy corn a vintage treat? It's my favorite! I love hearing of a time when loot didn't need to be inspected. That was always the worst part because the best ones were suspicious (or maybe my dad ate them later, who knows).
ReplyDeleteOops and "Happy Halloween"!
DeleteCandy corn is one of the first candies I remember from my childhood, so I know it's been around for at least 60 years. I don't know how far back it goes.
DeleteI plead guilty to eating a little of Jenn's loot when she was a kid. Easter candy too...:)
Lovely memories, Dana. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm very fortunate to have had a wonderful childhood. I have lots of great memories of growing up in the 1950s and 60s.
DeleteWoooooooooo woooooooooo happy Halloween !
ReplyDeleteAnd a big ol' booooooooooo to you too! :)
DeleteMaybe one day you could share your Mum's recipe for popcorn balls Dana. Very quiet on the streets (Halloween-wise) here. My youngest daughter has gone trick or treating with her friends, will check out her loot when she comes home tomorrow! Caramel apples look so much nicer than toffee apples - I've never tried one x
ReplyDeleteMy mom used the Old-Time Popcorn Ball recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. Here it is:
Delete5 quarts popped corn
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Keep popcorn hot and crisp in slow oven (300-325 degrees). Butter sides of saucepan. In it, combine remaining ingredients except vanilla. Cook to hard-ball stage (250 degrees). Add vanilla. Pour slowly over hot popped corn, stirring to mix thoroughly. Butter hands lightly and shape popcorn balls. Makes 15-20 balls.
My favorite caramel apples are much easier to make. I like the ones made from melted Kraft caramels. You can't get much easier than that!
Thanks Dana, once "It's A Retro Cook-Off is done and dusted I"ll be making some.
DeleteI never got around to making any today either, since I know I'll be working on my cook-off entries tomorrow. I'm saving my strength for the task at hand, because one of my dishes is going to be a grueling, gruesome task. ;)
DeleteThanks for the trip down memory lane. I trick or treated during the late 60's and early 70's but it was still the same type of scenario - we could go wherever without worry and our candy didn't need to be inspected. I miss those days. It's been a long time since I have seen wax lips - love it! Happy Halloween, Dana!
ReplyDeleteGetting wax lips was always the highlight of my Halloween...LOL
DeletePopcorn balls were the best! One of our neighbors always had them and we knew to go there first so we could eat them as we did the neighborhood. We didn't have to stick to our own street as long as we stayed in one big giant group!
ReplyDeleteWe never stayed on our own street either. We'd get in a huge group and cover every street in the neighborhood. What a haul of candy...because back then, every house gave you a handful. There weren't any "Please take just one" signs on bowls.
DeleteI never got "waxed lips" when I was a kid trick or treating. (:
ReplyDeleteHappy Halloween!
(I already received a "trick" from a certain ebay seller haha)
I don't recall that anyone ever gave out wax lips, but the dime store at the shopping center near us sold them, along with wax moustaches and wax fingertips with creepy looking fingernails. As soon as Halloween candy started appearing in the stores, my friends and I would take our allowance money and stock up.
DeleteAs for the eBay seller, I think she was trying to trick a lot of people! Glad you stopped her.
Happy Halloween Dana!!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm now I want to make some popcorn balls!!
Happy Halloween to you too! I may have to make some popcorn balls "for my grandsons" this afternoon. I'm craving them too. :)
DeleteI miss popcorn balls and the old time goodies. Wax lips~ I can still remember the taste!
ReplyDeleteCaramel apples and candy corn are still my favorites.
Hope you had a good Halloween!
I remember that wax lip taste too, and it's probably been 50 years since I had them.
DeleteI notice a lack of Peanut butter "Mary Janes" in your Halloween loot. I used to hate them as a kid, and now they're okay! The Candy pumpkins look tempting too!
ReplyDelete