Recipes for Halloween treats during National Popcorn Month

Popcorn lovers rejoice: October is National Popcorn Poppin' Month,a seasonal celebration of one of America’s oldest and most beloved snack foods.

As farmers head into the fields to harvest crops, families and friends gather to honor this ever-popular treat. Whether stovetop, microwave or ready-to-eat, we consume 15 billion quarts each year of this wholesome, whole grain.

Having been long regarded as a sign of good times, popcorn has found a new appreciation by today’s lean and green consumer. Celebrated for its seed-to-snack simplicity, popcorn is also non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and naturally low in fat and calories, which makes it an easy fit for dietary preferences—and it’s budget-friendly. A quart of popped popcorn costs as little as 15 cents.

Add in popcorn’s irresistible smell, taste, and versatility and it’s easy to understand its popularity. With so many different ways to eat it—plain, buttery, or loaded with goodies—popcorn always fits the mood or occasion.

Pop up a bowl and join the Popcorn Poppin’ Month celebration.

RECIPE FOR WITCHY POPCORN BALLS:

Witchy Popcorn Balls Halloween Treat

Ingredients:

• 16 chocolate wafer cookies

• 3 quarts popped popcorn

• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter or

• margarine

• 3 cups miniature marshmallows

• 3 tablespoons (1/2 of a 3-ounce box)

• lime gelatin dessert mix

• Green food color, optional

• 8 chocolate ice cream cones

• 3/4 cup chocolate chips

• Orange sugar sprinkles, placed in a

• small dish

• Jelly beans, candy corn, licorice string

Directions:

1. Spread a sheet of wax (or parchment) paper over a work surface and place the wafer cookies on it.

2. Spray a large mixing bowl with cooking spray and place popcorn inside.

3. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in marshmallows and gelatin dessert powder until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. If desired, adjust color with a drop or 2 of food color. Pour over popcorn and mix well until coated.

4. Spray hands with cooking spray and press !rmly to form into 8 balls. Place balls on 8 of the wafer cookies. Press candy decorations into popcorn balls to form eyes, nose and mouth.

5. Place chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl. Cover and heat for 10 seconds. Stir chocolate to aid melting. Repeat as needed until chocolate is melted and smooth.

6. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon melted chocolate onto the top of each popcorn ball. Press a few licorice strings into chocolate to form ‘hair’.

7. Dip cone edges into melted chocolate and then into orange sugar sprinkles. Place on remaining wafer cookies to form witches hat. Place hats onto popcorn balls. Allow chocolate to set for about 45 minutes before serving.

8. Serve or seal individually in plastic wrap for storage.

Find more recipes and ideas at www.popcorn.org.

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