Host An Unforgettable Book Club Party

I just finished reading The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach and now I have baseball and its unofficial anthem on my mind:

Take me out to the ball game, Take me out with the crowd; Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don’t care if I never get back. Let me root, root, root for the home team, If they don’t win, it’s a shame. For it’s one, two, three strikes, you’re out, At the old ball game.

Here’s a baseball inspired recipe for homemade Cracker Jack.   Cracker Jack was first introduced at the First Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 by Frederick William Rueckheim and his brother Louis. Sailor Jack and his dog, Bingo, were introduced in 1918.

Ingredients

• 10 cups of fresh popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup white corn syrup
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cup peanuts

 Instructions

1. Line a large baking sheet with sides with parchment paper.
2. Pop the popcorn and allow it cool a bit in bag.  Coat a large bowl with cooking spray oil and add popped popcorn to bowl (be careful that unpopped kernels are not added to bowl.)  Set aside.
3. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add butter, corn syrup, brown sugar, salt, and water.  Stir and bring to boil.  Boil for 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and baking soda.
4. Carefully pour hot caramel over popcorn and immediately stir until coated.  Stir in peanuts and transfer mixture to parchment lined baking sheet.  Spread mixture evenly on baking sheet.
5. Place in oven and stir mixture after 30 minutes baking.  Allow mixture to bake for another 30 minutes.   Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.  Stir in an airtight container.