[1] Make mini popcorn balls in your favorite colors (photo © National Popcorn Board).
[2] You can buy bags of popcorn or pop your own (photo © Hannah Kaminsky | Bittersweet Blog).
[3] Popcorn trail mix is easy to make. Here’s the recipe (photo © Delicious Meets Healthy).
[4] You can flavor popcorn with herbs and spices for any occasion. Here, pumpkin pie spices create Pumpkin Spice Popcorn (photo © National Popcorn Association).
[5] Use popcorn as a garnish, like this caramel corn garnish on a carrot cake. Here’s the recipe (photo © Honest Cooking).
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January 19th is National Popcorn Day, celebrating an all-American treat. (October is National Popcorn Month.)
Popcorn is an all-American food, born by accident thousands of years ago. The oldest popcorn known to date was discovered in 1948 in a cave in New Mexico.
Here’s the history of popcorn.
We’ve got interesting ways to use popcorn, below.
For today, here’s a fun recipe from the National Popcorn Board. They call it Pop-a-rif-ic Popcorn Balls.
You can leave them their natural beige color, but there’s more eye appeal with a bit of food color (photo #1).
For the rest of the year, you can use the same recipe with theme food colors to make the popcorn balls for specific holidays and sports teams.
Make a batch for movie night, game-watching or for general snacking.
Note that while this recipe is not a low-calorie snack like plain popcorn, it is a whole-grain snack.
RECIPE: POPCORN CANDY BALLS
Ingredients For 14 Balls
3 quarts popped popcorn, unsalted
1 (1-pound) package marshmallows
1/4 cup butter plus additional for shaping balls
Optional: food color
Optional: mix-ins (M&Ms, Reese’s Pieces, nuts, dried fruits, etc.chocolate chips)
Optional garnish: sprinkles
Preparation
1. PLACE the popped popcorn in a large bowl.
2. COMBINE the marshmallows and butter in a large saucepan over low heat; cook until melted and smooth. To color the popcorn balls, add a few drops of food coloring to the smooth marshmallow mixture.
3. MIX well to distribute the color evenly, then pour over the popcorn. Toss gently to mix well. Cool for 5 minutes.
4. ADD the optional mix-ins and stir well to distribute.
5. BUTTER your hands well and form the mixture into 2-1/2 inch balls. Makes about 14 balls.
Variations:
Place nonpareils in a shallow bowl or plate. Roll popcorn balls in nonpareils after forming.
MORE POPCORN RECIPES
Alternative Popcorn Uses
Arugula-Fig Salad With Popcorn Garnish
Corn Custard With Popcorn Garnish
Easy Microwave Popcorn
How To Remove The Burnt Popcorn Smell
Jalapeñno-Parmesan Popcorn
Kale-Lime Popcorn
Popcorn Ball Ice Cream Sandwiches
Popcorn Meatloaf Recipe
Pairing Wine & Popcorn
Popcorn Cupcakes
Popcorn Ice Cream
Popcorn Party Bar
Popcorn Salad
Popcorn Trivia
Rosemary-Parmesan Popcorn
Sage Popcorn
S’mores Popcorn
Sweet & Savory Popcorn Garnishes
Toffee Popcorn
Triple Caramel Popcorn Fudge
Truffle Popcorn
What Makes Popcorn Kernels Pop
SEASONAL POPCORN RECIPES
Candy Corn Popcorn Balls
Chocolate-Drizzled Popcorn
Christmas Popcorn Balls
Cranberry & Chocolate Spiced Popcorn
Cranberry Popcorn Balls
Chocolate-Cranberry Popcorn Bark With Toffee
Cranberry-Orange Popcorn Balls
Halloween Popcorn Balls
Halloween Witch Popcorn Balls
Haunted Halloween Popcorn Hands
Popcorn Snowman
Pumpkin Spice Popcorn
White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn Bark
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