1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup molasses
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons butter
About 6 cups puffed rice cereal

Boil syrup, molasses, sugar and vinegar until it snaps when tested in cold water (see note). Remove from heat, add butter, allow bubbling to die down, then pour over puffed rice. Mix well with a spoon and, when slightly cool, form into balls.

NOTE: This recipe refers to the "hard crack" stage in candy making. Cook the syrup to 300-310 degrees F (using a candy-making thermometer). To test, drop a small amount of syrup into very cold water. If the syrup separates into hard, brittle threads, it's ready to be removed from the heat.

Makes about 10 baseball-size balls.