Nom nom nom: Caramel popcorn balls

I've changed my mind about Christmas this year and, despite the fact that I'm only going to be home for about five days before I fly home to Lisbon, I'm going to put up my tree tonight. So out will come the antiquated ornaments stolen from home in a furtive fit of kleptomanic nostalgia (sorry dad), the things I've been buying every year since I left home and one of my favourite pieces, the chiming candle stand bought for me by a very dear friend when I told her how my mother had one just like it. When I was young, decorating the tree was a real treat and I want to recapture that (mulled wine for one, here I come!). I remember reading the Little House on the Prairie series of books and being very interested in the strings of popcorn that Laura and her family would put on the tree. So just because I love popcorn, am feeling very home-y and because I clearly haven't eaten quite enough junk food so far, I wanted to share this recipe for caramel popcorn balls that I found on Skinny Gourmet. I don't think they'd ever actually get to be hung on the tree but they certainly look tasty!

Get these things
Popcorn. approx 1/4 cup kernels. Roughly 8 cups popped.
1 slight cup honey
½ cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup water
20 grams salted butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Makes 8-10 medium popcorn balls.

Do these things
Combine honey, white sugar, brown sugar, water, and salt in saucepan. Place over low heat, stirring until mixture begins to boil. Add butter. Cook to firm ball stage (248 degrees). Coat popcorn and press to balls.