A fictionalized Memoir and a recipe

A Fictionalized Memoir

Billy Benson, at age 9 in 1952, gets in trouble with the courts and finds himself "banished" to his grandfather's farm for the summer as his mother attends classes to better herself as Billy's father is institutionalized in a TB clinic with the responsibility of supporting her family, falls onto his mother's shoulders. Billy is captivated by the stories told him by his grandfather, especially those of his great grandfather's service in the Confederate Army. He was wounded in the trenches at Petersburg, Virginia, prior to the Battle of the Crater that was depicted in the movie, Cold Mountain.

Grandfather's Popcorn Balls

Grandfather always put in a few rows of popcorn, waiting to be sure it wouldn't "cross" with the field corn he raised to feed his mule and the chickens. 

He used to make these for me on the wood stove, after getting a "good hot fire" going. They tasted a lot like Crackerjacks.

Ingredients

25 m10458

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup water

Directions

• Prep
  10 m
• Cook
  15 m
• Ready In
  25 m

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter and water. Stir and heat to hard-crack stage or 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Remove from heat, add vanilla mix well.
2. Pour slowly over popped popcorn while stirring. Wait 5 minutes and shape into 3 inch round balls.
3. Store in a lard can or any other airtight container.