Wok Caramel Corn

 

 

Hello everyone  I am happy to bring you this fun, tasty, and easy caramel corn recipe today.  It whips up in about 5 minutes, and the result is sugared caramel corn deliciousness. 

 

Wok Caramel Corn

 

12-14 cups of popped corn -- I used an air popper.

1/2 cup butter --  I wouldn't recommend using margarine.

1 cup brown sugar

5 tablespoons water

 

Place the butter, sugar, and water in a wok.  On medium to medium-high heat, bring the mixture to a boil, all the while stirring constantly.  Return heat to medium, and then allow mixture  to boil for another 2 minutes, without stirring.   Then add popcorn and stir to cover popcorn.  Don't eat just yet.  Allow to cool until the caramel sugars somewhat.  Note:  You could make this without a wok, but with a wok it is so easy to coat the popcorn in caramel, and it is also fun!

 

 

 

My husband is working out of state this year.  One of his former students and wife have been so kind to him by including him in their family activities, inviting him to dinner, and basically amazing people!  When I was visiting him last month, Kyle had told me about the caramel popcorn they make.  When they invited us over to dinner, I mentioned I would like their caramel corn recipe.  Even though we had another dessert, Bucky, his former student, made us a batch, and I was smitten.  Thank you Bucky and Christy, I don't know what he would do without you!

 

 

 

 

This has been added to our Sunday Snack Recipes  --  delicious, easy, and with ingredients we always have in our cupboards.

 

Thanks for dropping by my couch!

Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

 

 

 

 

 

It finally snowed some here in the high deserts of Utah  It was pretty, but treacherous.  I made some delicious popcorn to go along with the season.  The white popcorn reminded me of snow.  It is just a simple recipe to throw together

 

Pop some white popcorn.  I made one batch in my air popper.  You could also use two bags of microwave popcorn, but then you won't get the white look that I desired.

 

In a large bowl, add the popcorn, some salt, and some melted butter, and mix well.  Then spread out popcorn on cookie baking pans or jelly roll pans.

 

 

Drizzle with some melted milk chocolate chips ( I used about 2/3

's of a 12-ounce bag) and then add some crushed peppermint sticks.  I always like the Bob's peppermint sticks that come in the little blue package; they are much softer than regular candy canes.

Add a cup of toasted pecans, cut in small pieces.  Make sure you add the crushed peppermint sticks and pecans when the chocolate has not hardened, and press the crushed peppermint and pecans to help it adhere to the melted chocolate.



Wrap it in a cellophane bag, and give it to someone you love.

Thanks for dropping by the couch.

Nacho Popcorn

Hi everyone and welcome to Red Couch Recipes!  Almost everyone loves popcorn, whether sweet or savory.  I love this Nacho popcorn.  It is easy to make and most likely you will have all the ingredients that you need right in your pantry.

This was featured in my Popcorn and a Movie Tablescape on Wednesday.

In a simpler time, when I was a child, a real treat was popcorn and Kool-Aid on a weekend night.  We would pop the corn in a stock pot on the stove with some oil.  This recipe ramps up the popcorn treat idea just a bit by adding yummy Parmesan cheese and spices -- it would make a great weekend treat.

Recipe for Nacho Popcorn
Adapted from a Taste of Home recipe by Linda Boehme, Fairmont, Minnesota

5 quarts air-popped popcorn --I used 6 quarts and I think it would still be good if you had as much as 8 quarts of popcorn.

1/2 cup melted butter

2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese -- the kind in the green canister

2 tablespoons parsley flakes

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon chili powder

6-10 drops of liquid hot sauce -- I used Frank's Hot Sauce.

Pop popcorn in an air popper machine. Set aside. Melt butter in a medium sauce pan and add the Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic powder, and hot sauce. Mix together and drizzle on popcorn. With two large serving spoons toss popcorn until the seasoned butter covers the popcorn well.

Note: If you are using microwave popcorn, you could try to add less butter.  We liked it best eaten right away, but I am always a fan of stale popcorn.

Make some Nacho Popcorn this weekend!

Posted with the following:

Weekend Wrapup, Link Party Monday, Made By You Monday

Popcorn and a Movie Tablescape

Welcome to Red Couch Recipe's Popcorn and a Movie Tablescape!  Like many of you, I am a major popcorn lover.  I like both the sweet and savory varieties.  At Christmastime, I stay clear of those tins -- just too tempting.  Today NACHO POPCORN  is the star of my table!

My sister-in-law Dawnell gave me those cute popcorn containers years ago.  I have seen them since at Target and the Dollar Store.

I used a large popcorn bucket, elevated on a glass cake pedestal to be my main centerpiece.

I have also placed two large "chess" pieces, on each side of the popcorn bucket, as part of my centerpiece. 

Just another view of popcorn mania.

My bubble glass view -- I always like to include a view when I use my bubble glasses, which is often.

The Movie -- The Note
A Tale of Love, Forgiveness, and Second Chances

We recently watched the movie The Note for the first time; I highly recommend it.  It is a Hallmark movie produced in 2007, based on the book The Note, by Angela E. Hunt.  There is also a sequel "Take a Chance on Love," which I have not seen. 

The Note is a sweet and moving story about forgiveness and love.  A plane has crashed killing all the passengers on the plane.  A newspaper columnist, played by Genie Francis, has found a note written by a father to his son or daughter in the last few moments of his life.  Set at Christmas time, Peyton McGruder, sets out to find the rightful owner of the note and give someone a special message from their father.  In this journey, we learn about love and forgiveness as the note touches everyone who has contact with it, even the readers of Peyton's column, "The Heart Healer."  You can rent it from Netflix, see it on the Hallmark Channel, borrow it from your library, or click on the image below to buy it from Amazon.



Grab a handful of Nacho Popcorn on your way out!  I will post the recipe later this week.

Thanks for stopping by Red Couch Recipes, but please don't eat the popcorn on my Red Couch!  We wrecked a former couch by eating popcorn on it!

Green Jell-O Popcorn Pops

Make some GREEN Jell-O Popcorn Pops for St. Patrick's Day.  They are delicious and whip up in minutes and sure to please all the : "Little Leprechauns" in your life.

Recipe for Jell-O Popcorn Pops

1 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup sugar

1 small box, Lime Jell-O

3-4 quarts popped popcorn

Put syrup and sugar in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute. Do not boil longer. Remove from heat and stir in Jell-O. Butter your hands a bit and pour over popcorn and make into balls. The balls should be between the size of golf balls and tennis balls. Push stick through the center and enjoy! I acquired this recipe from my mother-in-law Geniel.  Note:  If you prefer a more gooey, sticky.  popcorn ball, use less popcorn.

Make some today!  Thanks for stopping by my Red Couch.

Posted with the following:

Made By You Mondays, Mom's Crazy Cooking, Kathleen's St. Patrick's Day Party

Jell-O Popcorn Ball Halloween Cats

Zoulah featured Fright and Night, her cats, on yesterday's tablescape.  She only thought it appropriate that we should have some edible cats so she came up with a minimalist version of an edible cat.  Of course she inserted a stick in them -- it is "more better that way!"  She named the cats Spike.

  Zoulah served them to Joni's Activity Day Girls (LDS church group).  Zoulah cackled when they ate the cats and didn't take out the toothpicks -- they looked so funny as they tried to eat the cat with the whiskers in the way.

Zoulah's Fright and Night Tablescape

Zoulah's Instructions for Jell-O Popcorn Ball Cats

Make the recipe HERE from Joni's  blog for Jell-O Popcorn Balls.  Make sure to take out any "old maid kernals."  Oops, Zoulah resents that name!  Use whatever flavor of Jell-O you like.  Zoulah used blueberry.  Then add about 1/2 teaspoon black coloring.  Butter hands, then work quickly and make into popcorn balls; while still somewhat warm, shape cat ears.  Then cut off top of Dots black candy for nose.  Use a bit of corn syrup to glue nose.  Insert six round toothpicks for whiskers.  You could add a candy mouth or eyes.  Zoulah went for the minimalist cat.

Zoulah thanks you for your visit to Red Couch Recipes and promises she has a lot more Halloween tricks and treats in her apron.

Molasses Popcorn Pops

Welcome to my Red Couch today where we are serving Molasses Popcorn Pops.  These pops are just perfect for autumn.  The color of these pops mirrors the hues of fall and the flavor of these pops just yells out autumn is here.  They are an old-fashioned treat young and old will like.  My husband is a big fan of these pops.  Make some for your loved ones today.

My 10 year old grabbing one.

Molasses Popcorn Pops Recipe  -- Recipe from Cooks.com

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup light molasses

1/2 cup white corn syrup

1/4 cup water

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 quarts popped popcorn

Sucker sticks

Cupcake Liners (optional)

Mix sugar, molasses, syrup, water, and salt in saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture boils.  Boil gently until mixture forms a soft ball, 235-240 degrees using a candy thermometer.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and butter.  Pour over popped corn and stir to coat popcorn thoroughly.  Form quickly into balls.  Stick sucker sticks in center of popcorn ball.  Place on cupcake liners.

Notes:  I like a softer popcorn ball so I only cook until the soft ball stage.  If you like a harder popcorn ball, cook until about 250 degrees to a hard ball stage.  Use butter on hands to form balls easier.  If you like a richer, deeper flavor, try brown sugar in place of the white sugar or dark corn syrup in place of the white corn syrup.    If you don't have a candy thermometer, test by placing mixture in a small cup of ice water.  When the mixture can be formed into a soft ball, it's done. 

I am glad you stopped by my Red Couch today.  I hope you enjoyed your Molasses Popcorn Pop.

I am posting this with the following:

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday

Sugar Bee's Take a Look Tuesday

Design by Gollum's Foodie Friday

Unbelievable Utah and Jell-O Popcorn Pops

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for 12 "Style Sisters" napkin ring giveaway.  Click HERE to enter. Since I host a food blog, I have to sneak in a recipe for Alphabe-Thursday where the letter of the week is "U" for Unbelievable Utah!  Utah is the Jell-O capital of the world!  Today I bring to you a fun, easy Jell-O recipe that you can make with your kids or grandkids during the summer.  I am also posting pictures of my Utah; all sights within a two hour drive of my home.

Recipe:
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1 small box, any flavor, Jell-O -- I used Strawberry.
3-4 quarts popped popcorn

Put syrup and sugar in medium saucepan.  Bring to a boil and boil for one minute.  Do not boil longer.  Remove from heat and stir in Jell-O.  Butter your hands a bit and pour over popcorn and make into balls.  The balls should be between the size of golf balls and tennis balls.  Push stick through the center and enjoy!  I acquired this recipe from my mother-in-law Geniel.

Popcorn waiting to be made into Popcorn Pops

I packaged these for a bake sale for my daughter's swim team.

















I have only lived in Utah since 1998, but Utah really is an unbelievable state! Moving from California our impression about Utah is that it is perfect, except for one thing...there is no ocean! Yes, Utah has the Great Salt Lake...not very good beaches or swimming!  Utah hosts five National Parks: Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capital Reef, Zions.  From A (Arches) to Z (Zions) we have you covered!  I am NOT featuring the well-known attractions.  These are pictures of natural attractions that are within a 90 minute drive of my home.  Except for the picture in Arches National Park, they are NOT actually well known.  Come explore with me!

This is a shot of the "Grand Canyon" of the San Rafael Swell.  It is said that this area would be or should be another National Park, but Utah already has five.  This is a beautiful spot that I believe rivals the Grand Canyon.

Rock Art in the San Rafael.

Goblin Valley State Park makes you feel like you ARE on another planet.  My kids have fun walking about the rock formations.  Me, I just hope no one falls!  Galaxy Quest, the movie starring Tim Allen was filmed here.  We have held several Easter Egg hunts here.

Dead Horse State Park.  Come enjoy the solitude here.

Utah has fabulous Slot Canyons.  This one is called Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon.  It is near Goblin Valley State Park.

The Fiery Furnace Hike in Arches National Park.  You have to have a guide to go on this hike.  Tati, the food blogger, took this picture. 

















Nine Mile Canyon Rock Art.  Nine Mile Canyon hosts amazing rock art.

I am posting this with Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday. It's one of my favorite parties of the week!

I am also posting with Tasty Tuesday.

Peanut Butter Popcorn Pops

First of all, don't forget to enter my giveaway.  Click HERE or click the top left hand picture on the sidebar of my blog.  This giveaway is for 12 "Style Sisters" napkin rings and ends on Friday, June 11, 2010.

My recipes this week will feature "Sweet Treats on a Stick," a spin-off of the cake pop mania, created by Bakerella.  This summer, bring your kids into the kitchen and make some sweet memories while making some "Sweet Treats on a Stick!"  For kids eating anything on a stick is fun; for adults it's great portion control!

I made these peanut butter popcorn pops twice this week.  I first made them for a group of girls from my church that come to my house twice a month to do activities.  I also made them for my girl's swim team fundraiser.  This recipe is from my sister Jackie.

Recipe:

1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup peanut butter
4 quarts popped (2 microwave bags or the equivalent in air popped popcorn)
Sucker Sticks
Chocolate for drizzling, if desired
Yield:  About 15 popcorn pops, depending on size.

Mix the corn syrup, brown sugar, and peanut butter in a medium saucepan.  Bring to a boil and boil for one minute; do not boil longer.  Pour over popcorn. 

Waiting to be formed into balls.

Cool slightly.  Put some butter on hands and begin to form into balls a bit larger than a golf ball and a bit smaller than a tennis ball.   Press stick into the middle of stick.  Drizzle melted chocolate, if desired.

















For the swim team bake sale, I put the popcorn pops in cupcake liners.















I put them in cellophance bags and labelled them.  They were a hit at the bake sale!
















I am posting this with the following:

Just Something I Whipped Up Mondays
Making the World Cuter
Market Yourself Monday