Perfect Popcorn

 Oh no!  I went to put in a bag of microwave popcorn to pop and eat while we watched a movie and found it was gone!  I guess I will have to pop corn the old-fashioned way.  And I was glad.  It was so much better than the microwave easy version.  And it wasn't that hard.  I googled a recipe and found a very good one!

Perfect Popcorn

3 Tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil

1/3 cup popcorn

1 Tablespoon or more butter

Heat the oil in a heavy pan with a lid.  Put 3 or 4 kernels in the oil.  When the kernels pop, add the rest of the popcorn.  Cover the pot and remove from the heat.  Count to 30.  Then put the pan back on the heat.  The popcorn will start popping soon and all at once because you heated the kernels evenly.  Leave the lid slightly ajar to release steam while it pops and move the pan back and forth over the heat.  When you can count to 5 between pops, remove the pan from the stove and pour the popcorn into a bowl.  Put the butter in the pan and heat until melted.  Pour over the popcorn and salt to taste.  

There you have it.  Perfect popcorn!

4th of July Popcorn

Want a fun treat for the Fourth of July?  This is so easy and delicious. It is sweet, salty, and buttery and crunchy.   And you probably have all the ingredients!

4th of July Popcorn
3 bags microwave popcorn, buttered variety
1 cup sugar x3
2 Tablespoons butter x3
1/4 cup water x3
Red and blue food coloring

First pop the corn according to the package directions.  Lay out waxed paper on your countertop or in large cookie sheets.  In a large kettle, combine 1 cup of sugar, 2 Tablespoons of butter and 1/4 cup of water.  Bring to a boil and boil for about 3  1/2 -4 minutes (If it starts to brown, take off heat immediately.)    Take off of the stove.  Mix in 1 bag of the popped corn.  Stir and stir until all the popcorn is coated.  Lay the candied corn out on the waxed paper.  Cool completely while you wash the pan.  Put the candied corn in a very large bowl, leaving the waxed paper for the next batch.  Then do the 2nd batch.  This time add a few drops of red food coloring after you take the cooked mixture off the stove.  Be sure to add enough that it makes red and not pink.  Then repeat with the third batch, this time adding blue food coloring.  Be sure to add enough color so the colors are vibrant!    Mix the three colors together in the large bowl, then store in an airtight container. 

Striped White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

This stuff is addictive.  It's a popular Christmas neighbor gift and I've eaten it a lot.  I decided I wanted to make it this year and searched the Internet for a recipe, but couldn't find one.  I guess it's one of those easy, word of mouth recipes and no one's bothered to post it.  So I decided I would- mostly so I can remember what I learned if I ever want to do it again.   It really is easy and really, really yummy!!!

Striped White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn
About 12 cups of popcorn  ( I bought "Nearly Naked" popcorn at Costco, but you could pop your own)
About 6-8 ounces of white vanilla flavored candy melts (I've heard you can use white almond bark as well)
Chocolate candy melts
Peppermint bark, cut fine

Put the popcorn in a large bowl.  Be sure to remove all of the unpopped corn kernels.  Add about 1/2 cup chopped peppermint Melt the vanilla melts according to directions in your microwave.  Stir until smooth.  Pour over the popcorn and stir to coat the popcorn.  When coated, spread the popcorn on a silicone mat or waxed paper.  Let cool until the melts harden.  Melt about 3/4 cup of the chocolate melts (or you can use chocolate chips.)  With a large spoon, drizzle the chocolate over the corn, creating "stripes."  Let harden and then enjoy!!  Store in airtight containers, or bag to give away.


Now, here's the truth.  I tried it with much more chocolate on it and with less.  All are good.  So, you can do more or less and it still will be delicious.  It's not an exact recipe.  You can do it with or without the milk chocolate stripes and the peppermint bark.  You could add nuts or sprinkles or whatever you'd like.  I did two full bags of the Nearly Naked popcorn and used four bags of the vanilla melts on that much popcorn- if that helps.    Here's pictures of what I used:

I bought the candy melts at Michael's, but you can get them at Walmart, too.

Kristen's Marshmallow Caramel Corn

This recipe comes from Kristen, but since I made it recently and have the pictures, I'll post it.  It is the perfect treat for family movie night or game day and is quick and easy to make. . . .and oh, so, yummy!
2 bags microwave popcorn, popped with unpopped kernels removed
1 cup real butter
1 cup brown sugar
30 large marshmallows
 Place popcorn(Kristen taught me to put the popcorn from the microwave bags by handfuls instead of just dumping it in- so you don't get those teeth-breaking unpopped kernals in your bowl) in a large bowl. Melt butter and brown sugar in a medium saucepan on the stove.  Stir constantly while it melts.  Let boil 1 minute (not longer). Remove from heat and add marshmallows and stir and stir  until marshmallows are melted and all is well blended. Pour over popcorn and stir until popcorn is coated evenly.