-wensHA Holiday Popcorn Balls A re* FHI'KIP nrnimp«f-e! In every family, certain holiday traditions are lovingly nurtured -- and one of the nicest is trimming the tree with popcorn balls You can perpetuate (or begin!) this custom with maple-y sweet Holiday Popcorn Balls. Best of all, these holiday treats are more than beautifully ornamental. They are deliciously edible -- combining popcorn, peanuts and/raisins. Maple flavored table syrup is the tie that binds all th£ ingredients together. Just cook maple flavored table syrup and brown sugar to make the candy coating. Stir in butter and pour it over the popcorn mixture. When it's cool enough to handle, "butter up" your hands and shape the mixture into balls. When Santa's little helpers join in the shaping, it becomes a family affair. Securely wrapped in plastic and decorated with brightly colored ribbon, the popcorn balls become festive ornaments. And they'll stay'fresh for days. . . if they last that long! Holiday Popcorn Balls 1 / 2 1 / 2 cups popped corn 3/4 (remove unpopped kernels) 11 /4 cup chopped peanuts cup raisins l /4 cup maple flavored table syrup cup firmly packed brown sugar cup butter or margarine In large bowl, combine popped corn, peanuts and raisins. In heavy small saucepan, combine syrup and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Continue cooking over medium heat until mixture reaches hard ball stage (260°F.) or until small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water forms a hard, but pliable, ball. Remove from heat; immediately stir in butter, mixing just until melted. Immediately pour syrup mixture over popped corn mixture, mixing until well coated; let stand 10 minutes. Butter palms of hands. Using about l cup mixture for each, shape to form 8 balls. Place on wax paper; cool thoroughly. Wrap securely in plastic wrap. Makes 8 popcorn balls. Note:To make tree ornaments, tie plastic-wrapped popcorn balls with thread or cord, forming loops at top for hanging. Decorate with ribbon. PAGE 3 - PLAINDEALER - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10,1982 A girl, Stephanie, was born at Good Shepherd hospital, Barrington, 111., Nov. 16, weighing 6 lbs. 15 oz., to Kenneth and Celeste Olson of McHenry. She has one sister, Samantha, two years of age. Maternal grandparents are Roy and Carmen Snodgrass of Lexington. Paternal grandparents are Gene and Areta Olson of No. Lake. Dan and Lauren Reimer of McHenry announce the birth of their first child on Nov. 17. Emily Rae was born at Good Shepherd hospital, Barrington, 111., and weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz. Maternal grand parents are Mr. and Mrs. Milton Shepard of Cary. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Reimer of Green Bay, Wis. are the jjaternal grandparents. Blair JoAnna is the name chosen by Kit and Deanna Carstens, 1315 N. Eastwood lane, McHenry, for their second child and first daughter. The 7 lbs. 2 oz. baby girl was born Nov. 17, at Memorial Hospital for ftlcHenry County, Woodtock, 111. She has a brother Josh Ryan, age three and a half. Maternal grand parents are the Rev. Dean and Ellen Plassmann of Peotone, 111. Mrs. Catherine Carstens of McHenry and the late Elmer Carstens are the paternal grandparents. Rick and Kris Er- wood, 3119 W. Fairway drive, McHenry, became parents of their second child and firs/ son on Nov. 18. Bryan Patrick was born at Memorial Hospital for McHenry County, Woodtock, 111., weighing in at 7 lbs. 6 oz. He has a two-year-old sister Courtney. Maternal grandparents are, Mr. and Mrs. John Blanner of Woodstock. Mr. and Mrs. Dick Erwood of Marengo, 111. are the paternal grandparents. Great-grandparents include Mrs. Ruth Wiswedel of Woodstock, Mrs. Agnes Erwood of Marengo, Mr. Art Anderson of Park Forest, 111. and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Glenn of Sedona, Ariz. A boy, David An thony, was born Nov. 20, to Jeff and Deb Stahl of McHenry. The 8 lbs. 4 oz. infant entered the world at Good Shepherd hospital, Barrington, 111. Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Grigsby of Schaum- burg. Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Stahl of Palatine are the paternal grandparents. Grandma Schools Seek Public Input The Illinois State Board of Education and the School Problems commission will seek public input on school problems and issues through five legislative hearings scheduled during December and January across the state. The purpose of the hearings is to give groups or individuals interested in the improvement of schools an opportunity to present their problems and suggest solutions. The Dec. 10 meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Gold room, second floor, Americana Congress hotel, 520 S. Michigan, Chicago. Also, a special hearing will be held Jan. 12 in Springfield to allow representatives of state-wide organizations to present testimony at prearranged times. The hearing will be conducted in Room 304 at the Stratton building. Persons interested in testifying at the hearing should provide at least one written copy, and if possible, 25 copies for the entire hearing panel. further information, persons should contact the State Board of Education at 217 782-9560 or the School Problems commission at 217 782-6900. SOLO Solo, a club for singles between the ages of 22 and 50, meets at 8:30 p.m. every Thursday at Fritz's Waterfront (Raymond'sBowl) 3312 N. Chapel Hill road, Johnsburg. All singles are welcome for an evening of dancing and meeting new single people. For club information, call 653-9902. Makes a body think o' a gittin' th' seed books out, th' kind o' weather we been a havin'. Seems like folks jist can't get into th' feelin', that Christmas'U be here afore ye know it. Wi' all th' preparations that ha' been a goin' on, parades, Santa's visit t\ town, 'n decorations on th' street, folks don't appear t' be a gittin' in th' mood. Wi' many families, a bit thin in th' pocketbook these days, it jist might be a good thing, t' break away from th' lavish gift-givin', an' enjoy a real olV fashioned Christmas, sans th' bills t' pay, t' start th' New Year. Reflectin' back t' Christmases past, this granny r'calls one^durin' th* first World War, an' th' scarcity o' so many things, an' how we made out. There wa'nt only a few Christmas trees t' be had, an' they were so expensive, only folks wi' a fat billfold could afford 'em. Me father got some boughs o' cedar, bored holes in our hall-tree, an' made us th' dearest little tree. Seems like we jist had t' have a tree, 'cause me little brother was only three, an' it jist wouldn't seem right wi'out one. Folks, who can't r'member those times, an' th' hard times folks had, wi'out some o' th' things we take f'r granted, these days, don't know what hard times're all about. In those days, there weren't prepared foods, exceptin, canned goods, an' we made our bread an' most ever'thing we had t' eat, an' most o' our clothin' too. At times, we couldn't buy sugar, an' we had t' conserve on flour, an' recipes came out f'r "eggless, butterless, sugarless cakes." Sometimes this ol' lady wonders how folks'd git along, in real hard times. So much is taken wi'out realizin' how bountifully we live, these days, an' th' thing that worries me mind is so many younguns a havin' too much money t' spend as they please. Some take it as though money grows on trees. Me thinks there's a sad awakenin' f'r many, one o' these days. Now, it's time t' think o' th' real reason f'r havin' th' celebration we call "Christmas", derived from th' Christ-Mass. This person heard commercials sung, on TV an' radio, a usin' melodies from our Christmas carols, an' it made me sad, t' think that merchants'd stoop t' degradin' our music, f'r purpose o' enticin' folks. It works jist th' opposite on this granny, an' is very disappointin'. Wi' the world in trouble, so many people wi'out homes, an' food t' keep 'em alive, it 'ppears t' me that it might be a good thing f'r folks t' git back t' th' basics o' real life, an' f'r get all th' tinsel an' fol-de-rols, an' celebrate Christmas f'r what it really is. Grandma Radtke Robert and Erin Anderson of McHenry announce the birth of their third child on Nov. 21. Emily Rose arrived at Good Shepherd hospital, Barrington, 111. weighing 9 lbs. 9 oz. She was welcomed home by lan, age six and four- year-old Todd. ' Maternal grandparents are Clarence and Patricia Eckmann of Island Lake. Vernon and Florence Anderson of McHenry are the paternal grandparents. Molly Courtney is the name chosen by Dennis and Mary Kurz of Wauconda for their first daughter. The 7 lbs. 12 oz. baby girl was born Nov. 22, at Good Shepherd hospital, Barrington, 111. She has a brother, Dennis Michael, age three. Maternal grandparents are Andrew and Betty Pizur of Wauconda. Alfred and Lois Kurz of Island Lake are the paternal grandparents. Leonard and Charlene Johnson, 1619 W May avenue, McHenry, became parents of their third child Nov. 29 and named him Ryan Richard. The 6 lbs. 10M> oz. baby boy was born at Memorial Hospital for McHenry County, Woodstock, 111. and was eagerly awaited at home by Leonard, age nine and Erica, eight years old. Maternal grandparents are Richard Jenner of Lake Geneva, Wis. and Dorothy Noonan of McHenry. Leonard and Rumell Johnson of Harvard, 111. are the paternal grandparents. Great-grandparents are Rae Williams of Chicago and Dorothy Vogt of New York. Thomas C. and Cecelia M. Leahy, 210M> McHenrj avenue, Crystal Lake, announce the birth of their second child on Nov. 29. Alexander Patrick was born at McHenry hospital and weighed 6 lbs. 3 oz. Maternal grandparents are Kenneth Larsen of Fargo, N.D. and Harriet Larsen of McHenry. Robert and Ruth Cowles of Pistakee are the paternal grandparents. Scott and Leslie Pfau, 1215 , Bay road, McHenry, became parents of their second child and first son Dec. 1. Jayson Scott arrived at McHenry hospital weighing 8 lbs. 9 oz. He has a sister Christa. maternal grandparents are Tom and Dorene Tobin of Crystal Lake. Don and Martha Pfau of McHenry are the paternal grandparents. HOLIDAY DIP Va cup milk >4 cup pickle juice 1 envelope (114 oz,) sour cream sauce mix '/2 cup mayonnaise \<2 tbl. finely chopped green pepper V4 cup chopped dill pickle V8 tsp. qayenne pepper Blend milk and pickle juice into-rt^ee mix; let stand 10 minutes. Add mayonnaise, green pepper, pickle, and cayenne pepper; mix thoroughly. Chill and serve with shrimp, cauliflower buds, carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, crackers or most anything. DOUGH CREATIONS -f Want to fashion your . own Christmas or- s naments, wreaths, wall * hangings, and •' figurines? Make your i own craft dough: Combine 1 cup of salt £ with 2 cups of all- purpose flour. Gradually add 1 cup of water, thoroughly* mixing it to form a ball of dough. Knead the * dough for about 10 i minutes until it is** smooth. Your molding . dough may be stored in * the refrigerator for 3 to * 5 days. When you are ready to • use the dough, you can « hand-mold it or roll it * out and use a knife or • cookie cutter to cut* shapes. * y " 4 Bake your completed} objects at 300 degrees* until they are cori^* pletely dry and ha**-* dened. This may takfe? from 1 to 3 hours* depending on thickness^ of your objects. The baked items rra be painted if desire The whole family can J enjoy their owr|« Christmas creations k? PRISTMAS tffit CANNED FOOD DRIVE [Through Dec. 23, we invite ONE AND ALL" to please bring a non-perishable canned food to PIZZA HUT in McHenry and get $2.00 OFF A LARGE PIZZA OR $1.00 OFF ANY MEDIUM PIZZA. Canned foods will be collected and passea on to FISH (Friends hi Service Here) for donations to the needy. Please help us make this Holiday a little brighter" for I someone in need. ',UM 1 ! V I" !" 1 ." il, •"*'PART¥ FAVORS •-> For a welcome gift for any age - fill a real ice cream cone full of nuts and-or Christmas candies. Place the cone in the middle of a square of plastic wrap 6r foil gift wrap. Bring the wrap up to the top and tie with a ribbon. Fluff the top of the wrap. Another attractive Christmas favor cup ; can easily be made by cutting the tops out of small milk cartons and then covering the sides of the milk containers with Christmas cards. Attach a handle that's made from braided yarn to the box. Fill the Christmas cup with nuts and-or candy. Quart- sized cartons make really pretty popcorn containers. ALL SQUIRREL CLUB MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO SEE THE MOVIE E.T.! ^ \ S a t u r d a y , D e c e m b e r 1 1 t h ~ I r a t e d I ^ A . M . ^ PG I A t M c H e n r y T h e a t r e . i K ' v l I s * I o go t you r FREE Thea t re l i cke t , s imp ly s top i n ou r l obby and p resen t you t Squ i r re l ' s Passbook A l l t i cke ts r X " / ^7 7 g i ven on a f i r s t come, f i r s t se rve l i as i s . V_Sr MEMBER FDIC M c l T I O M c l I . H c l M K O F V T l i e i M R V 3814 W. ELM ST., McHENRY 385-5400 CHUCK LEWANDOWSKI 1308 NLRARK McHENRY 385-2304 auto Mom tusmss hi At th iki YOU CAN EAT IT! Have you ever eaten your place card at a party table? Here's one that you can eat! Slice packaged refrigerator cookie dough into rectangles or squares, or roll the dough out and cut it into fancy shapes with cookie cutters. After baking your place cards, write your guests' names on with prepared frosting. Bet these will be the most appetizing place cards your guests have ever had! TONY WK The design says it all. Jantzen Scotch Tumbler® Shetland wool blend sweaters.They're warm. Stylish. Trim. For bodies with style in mind. Sleeveless V-neck with cable front MEN'S WEAR <3902 W. MAIN ST.. McHENRY 3W-40601