Popcorn Granola Bars #SundayFunday

Just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of hands-on time will yield a week's worth of healthy granola bars. Grab one as you walk out of the house to run errands, to recover post-workout, to take on a hike, or to tuck into a lunchbox for a healthy sweet ending.

The Sunday Funday Bloggers are celebrating National Popcorn Month....

Maple Popcorn and the Weekly Menu #CooktheBooks #MoviesandMunchies

This month's Movies and Munchies pick is the iconic A League of Their Own chosen by Debra of Eliot's Eats.  

When I was looking for this movie I discovered a series based on the film available with Amazon Prime.  I haven't watched it yet but I will.

Cranberry Popcorn #FoodnFlix

Popcorn, dried cranberries, slivered almonds and pecan halves tossed in a glaze of honey and maple.  A beautiful festive snack to keep on hand during the holidays.

This recipe was inspired by the movie The Family Stone.  

Nutty Cracker Jack Pretzel Treats #SundayFunday

Cracker Jacks, Peanuts and Pretzel sticks combine with Marshmallow to make a quick, easy, no bake dessert that is sure to be a hit at your next pot luck gathering.

The Sunday Funday Bloggers are sharing No Bake Desserts today.....

Kirsten's Popped Corn Crack for #FoodieExtravaganza

When Cam of Culinary Adventures with Camilla volunteered to host Foodie Extravaganza this month, she chose to honor National Popcorn Day which is celebrated on January 19th.  Many of us are coming together today and sharing our popcorn recipes so that our readers are prepared for the national celebration.

We eat a lot of popcorn around here.  Frank is the popcorn king.  He uses a whirly pop pan and Orville Redenbacher corn.  I like mine just salted. He likes his buttered and salted.  A couple of months ago I shared this Nutty Caramel Popcorn with you and a couple of years ago I shared this Gold and Silver Popcorn.

When Cam set up this challenge she invited us to make our popcorn either sweet or savory.  I am anxious to see if anyone made a savory popcorn.  I have eaten spicy popcorn. Would that be considered savory?  I thought about trying to figure out or find a savory recipe but the only thing my mind would picture when I thought of popcorn was this lovely mixture to which my friend Kirsten introduced me.

I have no idea what Kirsten calls this but I call it Kirsten's Popcorn Crack because it is so highly addictive.  I texted her to ask for directions. She said she would bring me the popcorn that she uses and the only other things I needed were white chocolate chips, mini m&m's and a touch of oil.

I must include a PSA right here, right now.....There is absolutely no nutritional value in this recipe.  It is made completely from processed foods.  It is highly addictive and author accepts no responsibility for any missed nutritional dietary needs due to the fact that the maker of this recipe and their family/friends skip all meals to eat this dish.

Now that the public service announcement is out of the way, let me just say this is the perfect recipe......Easy, Peasy and Delicious.  Throw your popcorn in a large bowl.  Melt the white chocolate with a little oil in a large measuring cup until smooth and pour over the popcorn, tossing the bowl to distribute it evenly over the popcorn.  Sprinkle in the M&M's, tossing to distribute, and you are done. If you are having guests you can put it in a fancy bowl otherwise throw in a movie, place the mixing bowl on the floor in the center of you all and dig in!!

Let's see more Popcorn Creations

Foodie Extravaganza is where we celebrate obscure food holidays or cook and bake together with the same ingredient or theme each month. This month we celebrate National Popcorn Day (which is January 19th) by serving up popcorn as creatively as we can.

Camilla from Culinary Adventures with Camilla is hosting and here's the challenge she shared with the crew...

"National Popcorn Day is celebrated annually January 19th. It can be sweet, savory, buttered, plain, and even shaped into balls. So, bring your most fun, creative – or just your favorite – twist to eating popcorn."

Posting day for #FoodieExtravaganza is always the first Wednesday of each month. If you are a blogger and would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page Foodie Extravaganza. We would love to have you! If you're a spectator looking for delicious tid-bits check out our Foodie Extravaganza Pinterest Board! Looking for our previous parties? Check them out HERE.

POP on Over to These Posts...

• Hubby's Vanilla Caramel Popcorn by Fearlessly Creative Mammas
• Kirsten's Popped Corn Crack by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Parmesan Popcorn with Lemon & Thyme by Caroline's Cooking
• Pepperoni Pizza Popcorn by Food Lust People Love
• Popcorn Cornbread by Palatable Pastime
• Popcorn Pairings (Yes, With Wine) by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Spicy Za'atar Popcorn by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• White Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Popcorn by Hardly A Goddess
• White Chocolate Popcorn by Sneha's Recipe

Nutty Caramel Corn for #ImprovCookingChallenge

Woohoooo...time for Improv Cooking Challenge.  The fun group that chooses two ingredients and asks us to create our best recipe using said ingredients.  Unlike, Crazy Ingredient Challenge, which might have 2 ingredients not normally used together, Improv uses two ingredients that can be used together in a multitude of ways.  This means that you, our readers, get a plethora of wonderful recipes to try and enjoy.

This month the ingredients are Nuts and Caramel. Two of my very favorite ingredients.  The possibilites are endless.  Brownies?  Cake?  Ice Cream Sundaes?  Peanut Brittle?  What to make, what to make??

I finally decided on a caramel corn chock full of mixed nuts.  It is easy to prepare. Everyone loves it. It keeps well.  It packages well.  It makes wonderful gifts.

I placed my Nutty Caramel Corn into little treat bags.  They will go home with the kids this weekend after Sunday Supper.  Each bag would also make great gifts to give to friends after a dinner party. Perhaps you could attach a dvd or gift card for the movies for an easy and fun Christmas gift. Or take it along with you to your next holiday party as a hostess gift.  

Whatever you decide to do, do it quick.  Get it packaged up and put away because if you wait you will find yourself nibbling each time you walk past until there is nothing left but the seeds......

Nutty Caramel Corn

Heaping 1/2 c. of popcorn kernels, popped

2 c. roasted and salted mixed nuts

2 c. brown sugar, packed

1/2 c. white corn syrup

pinch of salt

2 sticks unsalted butter

1/2 t, baking soda

1 t. pure vanilla extract

Combine popcorn and nuts in a large bowl.

In a large saucepan or dutch oven, combine the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt. Place over medium heat and melt, stirring occasionally until it starts to boil.  Boil for 5 minutes stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda and vanilla.  Pour over popcorn mixture, stirring immediately, coating as much popcorn as possible, before turning out onto baking sheets that have been sprayed with cooking spray and covered with parchment paper. 

Spread the popcorn mixture evenly among the 2 pans.  Don't worry about the caramel coverage at this point.  Place the pans in a preheated 250* oven for 15 minutes, using the top and middle racks. Remove from oven and stir to coat more of the popcorn mixture.  Replace in the oven using opposite racks for each pan.  Repeat this every 15 minutes for 1 hour.  After the final 15 minutes, stir and dump onto a counter lined with parchment paper. 

Allow to cool before breaking apart and placing into air tight containers for storage.  Print Recipe

More wonderful recipes containing Caramel and Nuts

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