The Rodeo Princess made it to town Wednesday morning and we made sure to welcome her with open arms and an open kitchen. Cookie decorating and popcorn ball making was on the schedule and I know she wouldn't have it any other way.
Mom, Hugh, Queen B, the Man-Cub, Shanti, Mikey, the Rodeo Princess and I were at our creative best; frosting several dozen cut sugar cookies that I had baked earlier this month. These cookies are always the star of the holiday cookie platter, so we take our task very seriously (except for the Man-Cub, who turned a snowman into an eerily accurate depiction of Kenny from South Park, and Hugh, who turned an angel upside down and managed to create a fairly realistic dinosaur).
Once the cookies were done, I cleaned up the frosting mess while Mom worked on the popcorn ball syrup.
The kids were a captive audience, which is necessary, if they are to carry on the tradition once their elders are gone, which, I hope isn't for a really,
really long time.
Mikey was a popcorn ball virgin, so the rest of the crew walked him through the process, starting with a slathering of butter on his hands, to protect them from the heat of the syrup.
Queen B and the Rodeo Princess then demonstrated the proper ball-making technique, which, he caught on to pretty quickly.
The Man-Cub was working at a disadvantage, thanks to his recent shoulder surgery. He did mange an impressive one-handed ball technique, however. Shanti was impressed.
When all was said and done, we had an impressive stack of balls, ready for snacking. A side bonus of the project is that my house still smells like popcorn balls, a couple of days, later.
I find this quite pleasing and I know Dad would approve.
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