The crazy lady who is going to open the door this evening to trick or treaters. Good luck kids!

So, it’s Halloween, and I wanted some kind of fun and festive sweet treat to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve*. But I didn’t want to steal any of the small candy bars bought specifically for trick or treaters. So, why not popcorn balls? Well, too much sugar. Then, how about caramel corn? Nope. Again, too much sugar.

Then I remembered the kettle corn I had gone crazy over at the last Anacortes Arts Festival. (Actually, my first time ever having kettle corn.) But again – way too much sugar and salt. But I was so curious about how to make kettle corn at home, that I went online. And after reading several recipes for homemade kettle corn, I got out my trusty Whirley Pop Popcorn Popper (say that three times very quickly). And my first try was very successful. But I thought the kettle corn should be just a wee bit sweeter, so I upped the sugar by 1 tablespoon in the recipe you find below. But 2 tablespoons works just fine if you are watching your sugar intake. (Which I should be doing too. But darn, it’s Halloween!) Anyway – a Whirley Pop Popcorn Popper is perfect for this recipe. And honestly, I don’t think just using a lidded pan would work as well. You might burn yourself. So, I feel, a Whirley Pop Popcorn Popper is the only way to go if you want to use this recipe.

Well, this is my second post for the day. Mr. C. just left for a gig at a retirement home, I have leftover Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup (recipe soon to be published) and cornbread to serve for dinner when he gets home, and I just finished making this delicious kettle corn.

So, I have decided that I am pretty much done for the day. Except of course to greet trick or treaters this evening and get rid of all the candy we purchased earlier this week that has been calling to me EVERY SINGLE MOMENT SINCE WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE HOUSE!

May you too be lucky enough to have costumed children come to your home for candy. I’d be so happy if I could give some of this homemade kettle corn away. But I know that things have changed dramatically since I was a child going to my neighbors’ home for Halloween treats like popcorn balls, homemade cookies, or invited inside to bob for apples. Or when my children were young knowing full well that anything offered by our neighbors would be safe to eat.   

I truly miss the days when it was common for me to offer homemade cookies, homemade candy, popcorn balls, or candy that didn’t come in sterile packaging to all who knocked on our door. Or when I still felt trusting enough to welcome any of our adult neighbors who came over for a bit of “Trick or Drinking”.

But those days are over, and I find that a real shame. We had so much fun. Life was just a whole lot simpler.

But I saw a very spot-on and refreshing post this morning that really resonated with me. It reminded all of us to open our doors to one and all even if the costumed trick or treaters seem too old to still be trick or treating. They are still children. And while they are still children, let’s let them be children. It’s only candy! And we can demonstrate kindness by just being kind. And by wishing each and every trick or treater, regardless of how tall they are, a HAPPY HALLOWEEN, HAVE FUN, AND BE SAFE!

And as always, peace and love from our spooky house to yours.

2 T. veggie oil (I use Canola)

3 T. granulated sugar

¼ tsp. fine sea salt, or more to taste

½ c. uncooked popcorn  

Mix the veggie oil, sugar, and salt together in the bottom of your Whirley Pop. Then stir in the popcorn kernels until each kernel is well coated.

Over medium heat, whirl away until the pops only come every half second or so.

Remove from heat and carefully pour the popped corn into a large bowl.

Stir with a big spoon to break apart the kernels.

For an easier cleanup, put water and soap immediately into the popper to soak.

After the kettle corn has cooled thoroughly, keep in an air-tight container.

*And no, Halloween is not All Saints’ Day; rather, Halloween (October 31st) is All Hallows’ Eve, the evening before All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and the start of Allhallowtide, a three-day period for honoring saints and the deceased. The name “Halloween” is a contraction of “All Hallows’ Eve,” meaning “the evening before All Hallows’ Day”.