Old-Fashioned Soft Popcorn Balls 

20 cups popped popcorn
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 cup candy corn, small gumdrops, raisins or salted peanuts

Place popcorn in large bowl or roasting pan; set aside.

Combine all remaining ingredients except candy in 2-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until candy thermometer reaches 250°F or small amount of mixture dropped into ice water forms a hard ball (40 to 45 minutes).

Remove from heat; pour over popcorn. Stir until all popcorn is coated. Gently stir in candy. Using buttered hands and working quickly, shape about 1 cup popcorn into ball. Place onto waxed paper. Repeat with remaining popcorn. Cool completely; wrap in waxed paper or plastic food wrap.

Yield: 15 balls