#3752 - Valentine Popcorn Bark

(by Shirley McNevich)

2/3 cup good quality popcorn kernels (popped but left plain)
12oz. pink candy melts
2 cups broken salted pretzel pieces
1 1/2 cups M&M's (Valentine's colors)
Valentine's colored nonpareils

After popping the popcorn, remove any unpopped kernels and discard them. In a large bowl add plain popped popcorn, broken pretzel pieces and Valentine's colored M&M's--toss gently with your hands to mix. Lay out two large sheets of wax paper on your counter and place one on top of the other so that the long side of one piece overlaps the long side on the other piece by 2". Melt the pink candy melts according to bag directions. Evenly pour HALF of the melted chocolate over the popcorn mixture, then use two rubber spatulas to toss/coat the mixture. Spread the whole popcorn mixture evenly over the wax paper, then drizzle the other half of the melted chocolate over the top of the popcorn mixture. Gently shake some Valentine's colored nonpareils over the popcorn mixture. Cool until chocolate hardens, then break the mixture into pieces.

#2930 - Cheap Microwave Popcorn

(Shirley McNevich)

one brown paper lunch bag
1/4 cup GOOD QUALITY popcorn kernels
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. olive oil

In a small bowl add the popcorn kernels and olive oil--stir until kernels are coated. Open a brown lunch bag--dump the coated kernels into the bottom of the bag. Sprinkle the salt evenly over the kernels. Make a 1" fold at the top of the bag, then fold it over a second time. Place the bag upright in a microwave. Microwave on high for 1 minute 50 seconds (you may have to adjust the time; this time is for a 1300 watt microwave). Only recommended for microwaves that have a turning carousel.