Grandpa and Grandma's Honey Popcorn

My family often visited my Grandparents on Sunday evening.  Grandpa popped corn over the stoveplate using a metal basket, which he shook vigorously so the popcorn didn't burn.  Grandma made honey coating to pour over the hot corn and after it cooled, Grandpa dished it up into shiny metal bowls.  There were eight of them in assorted colors, one for each of us. I always tried to get the sky blue bowl because it was the prettiest of them all.  The popcorn ritual was the prelude to another sunday night ritual.

We all filed into the living room and my siblings and I plopped onto the carpet, careful not to tip over our bowls lest the sticky, gooey, corn fall on the floor.  The adults got the chairs. Grandpa always sat in the Lazy Boy with his feet on the footrest and we all quietly (and I do mean QUIETLY) watched the Lawrence Welk Show.  My Grandparents adored it and never missed it if they could help it.  The enforced good behaviour was worth it to us children only because of the honey popcorn.  We just didn't appreciate the bandleader and his music.  And we got one and only one bowlfull; any more and you were sick all night long.  We had to ration it out so that our bowl last the full hour.

Many years later when Grandpa was almost 95 and living with my parents I went to visit one day.  I found him in my Dad's chair with the footrest up, watching re-runs of the Lawrence Welk show.  I kissed him on the cheek and he said, "You know, it's just amazing that Mr.Welk (as his "musical family" called him ) never seems to get any older or slower.  This show is just as good today as it was 40 years ago".  We could never convince Grandpa that Lawrence had passed on and that he was watching re-runs.  He just wouldn't believe it.

Grandpa's birthday is coming up. 111; that's how old he would be this year.
I like to remember the Grandpa of my youth, sitting in the Lazy Boy, and shushing us kids so that we could all enjoy the bubble machine and Norma Zimmer, the Champagne Lady.
Love you, Grandpa.  Thanks for the popcorn and the memories.  I'll be making this on your birthday to celebrate.

Grandpa and Grandma's Honey Popcorn

1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
¾ cup of honey
¼ cup of light Karo corn syrup
2/3 cup (or 6 ounces of canned milk)
¼ cup of white vinegar
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of baking soda
5-6 quarts of popped popcorn, hulls removed

Cook the first six ingredients to the soft ball stage, 230º F. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract and baking soda. Stir well until the mixture foams. Pour over 5-6 quarts of popped popcorn and stir to cover.

Immediately form into balls or spread the corn out onto waxed paper to cool.