Popcorn Popping...

Sesame-Ginger Popcorn

This snack is as fun to make as it is to eat. It's popcorn with a twist. Toasted sesame oil, sesame seeds, brown sugar, and fresh grated ginger give this popcorn it's unique sweet and spicy flavor. If you are looking for something tempting to serve at your next movie night, this delicious snack is the one.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups popped popcorn  
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger  
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 
• 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil 
• 1-1/2 cups lightly salted cashews 
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• 2 tablespoons light-colored corn syrup 
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Remove all unpopped kernels from popped popcorn. Put popcorn and cashews in a greased 17x12x2 inch baking or roasting pan.

In a medium saucepan combine brown sugar, butter corn syrup, ginger, and sesame oil. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils. Continue boiling at a moderate rate, without stirring, for 5 minutes more.

Remove pan from heat. Stir in sesame seeds, vanilla, and baking soda. Pour mixture over popcorn mixture. Stir gently to coat. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown, stirring twice. Spread popcorn mixture on a large piece of buttered foil to cool. Store tightly covered. Makes 8&1/2 cups.

Cinnamon Popcorn

• 2-3 quarts popped corn in a large bowl 
• 4 Tablespoons butter-melt in a small saucepan.
• Add: 3 Tablespoons water, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 

Increase heat. Boil 3-4 minutes. Stir into popcorn. Stir while cooling.

White Chocolate Popcorn Crunch 

• 5 cups popped popcorn 
• 1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries 
• 1/2 cups sliced almonds 
• 12 ounces white chocolate baking chips, chopped white chocolate or white candy coating 
• 1-2 tablespoons vegetable shortening

Here's how:
Cover a baking pan with foil or wax paper; set aside. Place popcorn, cranberries and almonds in a large bowl; set aside. Melt chocolate in a double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring until smooth OR melt according to package directions. (If chocolate in not smooth after melting, stir in 1-2 tablespoons shortening until mixture is smooth and loose enough to coat popcorn). Pour chocolate mixture over popcorn mixture and stir to coat. Spread onto prepared pan; allow to cool completely. When chocolate is cooled and set, brerak into chunks for serving. Sotre in an air-tight container at room temperature.

Variation: White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn Crunch: Omit cranberries and almonds. Stir in 1 cup crushed hard candy peppermint after chocolate is melted.

  

Marshmallow Pink Popcorn 

• 1/4 cup plus 2 Tblsp. light corn syrup 
• 2 Tblsp. butter 
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 cups mini marshmallows, divided 
• 2 cups powdered sugar 
• 6 drops red food coloring 
• 4 quarts popped corn 
• 1 cup salted peanuts 

In heavy saucepan blend syrup, butter & water. Cook over low heat until mixture thickens. Add 1 cup of the marshmallows and stir until they melt. Add powdered sugar and coloring. Stir and cook until bubbling. Pour over corn and salted nuts and the rest of the marshmallows.

Jello Popcorn 

• 1 c. unpopped corn (24 c. popped popcorn) 
• Salt, optional 
• 3 oz. pkg. Jello 
• 1 c. granulated sugar 
• 1 c. light corn syrup

 Put popcorn in large bowl. Salt to taste. Put Jello powder, sugar and syrup into saucepan. Heat and stir to dissolve. Bring to boil. Pour over popcorn. Stir to coat well. 

One of our girls brought raspberry flavored Jello popcorn and one of the leaders brought strawberry flavor and grape flavor. All delicious!!!

Gummy Bear Popcorn  

I took this one. It's my ex-sister-in-law, Anna's recipe. LOVE IT!!!

• 1 cup butter 
• 1 1/3 cups sugar 
• 1/2 cup corn syrup 
• 1 tsp. vanilla 
• 3 cups marshmallows 
• 1 package of gummy bears

Pop 2 or 3 bags of buttered popcorn. Pour onto cookie sheets and gently pick up popcorn and put into large mixing bowl so that the unpopped kernals fall to the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle gummy bears over popcorn and gently toss. Melt butter-add sugar and syrup. Bring to boil, stir and simmer for 3 minutes. Add vanilla and stir in marshmallows. Pour over popcorn and gummy bears. It will melt the gummi bears if you it this way otherwise you have chewy gummy bears mixed in and trust me it isn't so yummy! Just stir and stir until gummy bears are nicely melted and eveything is mixed well. Then poor out onto cookie sheets and ENJOY!!! Anna insists that Kraft marshmallows and real butter are necessary for the recipe. I am cheap and use Great Value marshmallows and it works out well but I totally agree on the butter!!!

Chocolate covered popcorn

Melt these Wilton brand vanilla melts in the microwave and poor over microwave popcorn. So yummy! And you can't get any easier that this! I used red last Christmas. I found some at WalMart in the Halloween candy stuff that was orange, black, and a slimy green color. You can find them at craft stores or in the craft section at WalMart by the cake decorating stuff.This is a bad picture but all I could find. Hint: If you don't already do this, poor your popcorn on a cookie sheet and then carefully pick it up and put it in a bowl, leaving the uncooked kernals on the cookie sheet. Then you won't be biting into uncooked kernels all the time! Save your teeth!

Mexican Cheese Dip

1 two pound block of Velveeta cut into about 1 inch cubes
2-10 oz. cans Rotel Tomatoes (find these by stewed tomatoes at the store)

Melt together in a sauce pan. Serve with tortilla chips. If you don't like spicy stuff go for the mild kind because even the original is a little spicy. The hot is HOT! Good stuff!

Apple Dip

Apple Dip

1 tsp. vanilla
1-8 oz. package cream cheese
1/2 cup brown sugar
3-4 apples

Mix cream cheese, vanilla, and brown sugar together. Eat with apple slices.


How I got this recipe: In my jr. high home ec. class we made a cook book and this recipe was in it. My Mom made it and we were hooked!!! It's a favorite of my kids and Brian now, too. It is kind of caramely tasting.