Fun with an Autumn Snack

October is National Popcorn Poppin’ Month, a time for popcorn lovers to celebrate the annual harvest of one of America’s oldest, tastiest and most beloved snacks. Share the fun with your family and friends by popping up a batch of your favorite crispy, crunchy snacking treat…popcorn!


This sounds like a fun recipe to try this season--I am going to try it using the easy, no mess, microwave method from my Jac's sister's trusty caramel corn recipe.


Cinnamon Popcorn Crunch
3 quarts popped popcorn, unsalted
1 (6 1/2-ounce) can salted mixed nuts
1 pound light brown sugar1 cup light corn or maple syrup
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Mix popcorn and nuts in large buttered bowl. Combine sugar, syrup, butter or margarine, water, salt and cinnamon in saucepan. Heat slowly to the boiling point, stirring until sugar melts. Cook to hard crack stage, 290 to 295*F (145*C).
Pour syrup in a fine stream over popcorn and nuts. Stir until popcorn and nuts are evenly coated with syrup. Spread out on large buttered surface or waxed paper. Separate into bite-size portions with forks. Cool.
Makes 4 1/2 quarts.
*Recipe provided courtesy of The Popcorn Board.


DO A POPCORN STUDY:
Engage the kids by researching about their snack! For more popcorn recipes, as well as information, facts, links, reading list, coloring sheets, worksheets and more all about popcorn, visit:
http://www.popcorn.org/
http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa011501b.html

Visit the site of our favorite, local kettle corn company and see the great custom gift boxes available for order:
http://www.misshannahs.com