October, 2007

  1. Retro Halloween-Popcorn Balls

    October 31, 2007 by Tarrant Figlio

    When I picture the Halloween of yesteryear, popcorn balls and apple bobbing figure prominently. I must confess, I only have made popcorn balls once…for a high school bake sale. Now that I think about it, I wonder why. I liked them. They were easy, quick, thrifty and very popular. So, if you need a last minute treat for visiting ghosts and ghoulies, give them a try. This is a very basic, very retro, except for the Pam instead of butter, Karo syrup recipe. You can add anything you might add to a rice Krispy treat to a popcorn ball…m and ms, gummy worms, etc.

    Popcorn Balls

    12 popcorn balls

    3 quarts (12 cups) popped popcorn
    1 cup granulated sugar
    1/2 cup Karo Corn Syrup with real Brown Sugar
    1/4 cup butter or margarine
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1 teaspoon vanilla
    1/2 teaspoon baking soda

    Spray large roasting pan with cooking spray; add popcorn and place in 300ºF oven until warm.
    Combine sugar, Karo, butter and salt in a heavy 2-quart saucepan. Stirring constantly, bring to boil over medium heat. Continue stirring and boil 2 minutes.
    Remove syrup mixture from heat; stir in vanilla and baking soda. Pour syrup mixture over warm popcorn stirring to coat well. Cover hands with two plastic bags, spray bags lightly with cooking spray. Working quickly shape twelve 3-inch popcorn balls.
    Cool completely. Wrap individually in plastic wrap.

    What do you picture at an old-fashioned Halloween Party?

    Category Desserts, Recipes, retro food | Tags: | 3 Comments

  2. Orange Coconut Flip

    October 30, 2007 by Tarrant Figlio

    Just the thing for a hairy, scary Halloween beverage…or to perk up your morning any day of the year, from the Mary Meade Magic Recipes (yes, I know I am stuck on it lately, but I love the name AND the recipes). I tend to skip the simmering with today’s moister coconut, but if you buy organic or your coconut is a bit dry, definitely simmer.

    Orange Coconut Flip

    Simmer for 10 minutes, covered
    1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
    3 cups water

    Cool, strain and add
    1 can frozen orange juice
    1 cup cracked ice

    Blend about 15 seconds. Pour over more cracked ice in tall glasses.

    Category Beverages, Recipes, retro food | Tags: | No Comments

  3. Dutch Meat Loaf – Meatloaf Monday

    October 29, 2007 by Tarrant Figlio

    This meatloaf may well be your mother’s meat loaf. The original recipe lived for years on the cans of Hunt’s tomato sauce that she bought. It has a slightly sweet glaze topping that adds a bit of interest to an otherwise boring retro recipe. I suppose I really mean adds interest to a very basic meatloaf recipe!

    Dutch Meat Loaf

    1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
    1 cup fresh bread crumbs
    1 medium onion, chopped
    1 8 oz can Hunt’s Tomato Sauce
    1 egg
    11/2 tsps salt
    1/4 tsp pepper
    3/4 cup water
    2 tbs brown sugar, packed
    2 tbs prepared mustard
    1 tbs vinegar

    In a medium bowl, lightly mix beef, bread crumbs, onion, 1/2 can tomato sauce, egg, salt and pepper. Shape into a loaf in shallow baking pan. Combine remaining tomato sauce with the rest of ingredients; pour over loaf. Bake at 350 F. 1 1/4 hours . Baste loaf several times. Makes 5 to 6 servings.

    Category Meat, Recipes, retro food | Tags: , | 5 Comments

  4. Fabulous 50s Friday-Halloween Bags

    October 26, 2007 by Tarrant Figlio

    Halloween Trick or Treat bagI love trick or treating. Unfortunately, I have hit the statute of limitations for trick or treating without a child and my kids go with other parents. Even they are starting to get a bit old for it. I wish we lived in a neighborhood where the kids gamboled about on Halloween but our street just isn’t the one. We get a few, but not nearly enough for my cooing over kids pleasure.

    Now, you can spend a ton of money on just the right bag for your treats…but none are as cool as these from the Halloween Museum

    Category retro food | Tags: | No Comments

Older Entries