Hannah Styles
hstyles@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Many of us can think of a fond holiday memory from our childhood or maybe a tradition your family still carries on today, like stringing popcorn to decorate the tree, or placing the star on top on Christmas Eve.
Candy making can be a memorable tradition for the whole family, that gets people off of their cell phones and gathered in the kitchen for lots of laughs and sometimes, messy fun.
Ona Huskey, of Swain County, is famed in the community for her homemade holiday candy.
“Every year I make sugar cookies with the grandkids and they really enjoy that, but my friend Stephanie Rose and I make peanut butter balls and coconut balls,” Huskey said.
She said they have been making the treats for as long as she can remember, and each year they take an entire day, sometimes two, to make their famed sweet treats.
“It started out with us making them for employees; we have a painting service, and my husband jokes that every year my list gets longer. I give them to neighbors, church members. This year, I gave out about 30 tins,” Huskey said. “I have to put them in tins as soon as we get done or my husband and I would eat them all!” she laughed.
Huskey said candy making is not difficult but is time consuming. Her love of making sweets runs in the family as she said her mom makes Christmas Crack that she looks forward to every year.
Ona says her husband’s favorite are the peanut butter balls and that hers are the coconut balls that she puts a twist on.
“I like to dip the coconut balls in white chocolate, and it makes them easier to tell the difference between them and the peanut butter balls without having to take a bite out of them to find out,” she said.
Ona has had the candy recipe for years.
“The peanut butter balls recipe came from a church member, Kay Winchester, who was kind enough to share it with me. It is a delicious recipe,” Huskey said.
She’s willing to share in the tradition with Smoky Mountain Times readers. Enjoy!
Chocolate Peanut
Butter Balls
22 ounces peanut butter
4 sticks butter
2 ½ pounds powdered sugar
3 tablespoons vanilla
Mix by hand or with a mixer but sometimes it’s easier to mix such a big quantity by hand, Huskey said. Roll it, chill it and then dip them in chocolate.