Popcorn Valentine's Day Treats

I saw these inexpensive Popcorn containers at Target 2 for $1.00 and bought 6 thinking I could use them for the kids teachers for Valentines day.

After researching for a fun popcorn recipe I decided I would try Chocolate glazed popcorn from allrecipes.com.

I made a half recipe incase it was not good and it is not close enough to give them out. I also adapted the recipe per some of the reviews.

I filled cellophane bags almost full and put tied a ribbon around them.

I had my daughter make her own cards with the saying "You are a pop,pop pop ular teacher!) (taken from an idea from Family fun.)

We added the tag and here is a cute and tasty snack.

My daughter and I loved the popcorn, my son and husband did not care for it.

You can also buy a bag of gourmet popcorn, Fresh Market had some for under $3 that would be cute. I am also going to try chocolate covered popcorn using white chocolate and M& M's. Will post about that one too.

Made one up with a few bags of microwave popcorn. Still cute idea!!

I used my Whirley Popcorn Maker which I adore and have been using for the past 10 years and hopefully 10 more..

I think for our next batch for the teachers we will use the traditional chocolate coated popcorn:

Chocolate covered pictured:

• 4 cups popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup peanuts (optional)
• 1/4 cup granulated and 2 tablespoons brownsugar
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 Tbspoons buttter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F  Oil a  baking pan with sides.
2. Place popcorn(making sure to take out all unpopped kernals) I didn't into a large, metal bowl, and set aside. Stir together the sugar, corn syrup, cocoa powder, and butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Stir in the vanilla, then pour over the popcorn. Stir until the popcorn is well coated. Spread the popcorn into the prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes
4. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool to room temperature. Break into small clumps, and store in an airtight container.

1 cup of unpopped popcorn kernels will yield about 2 quarts of popped corn.

White Chocolate Popcorn

2 bags microwave popcorn or 8 cups of popped popcorn

12 – 16 oz. white chocolate chips, melted

3/4 C M &M’s

3/4 C peanuts (or more M & M’s) 

1/2 cup chocolate chips-optional

Pop popcorn, remove unpopped kernels.  Put popcorn in a big bowl.  In separate bowl, mix together melted white chocolate and  M & M’s, until coated with white chocolate.  Pour over popcorn and mix to coat popcorn with white chocolate.  Spread onto two jelly roll pans or cookie sheets. 

Optional--Drizzle with melted dark or milk chocolate.  Let it sit until chocolate has hardened and popcorn breaks apart in bit pieces.  


IF YOU DONT WANT TO make your gift how about buy some flowers