Popcorn!

Our family loves popcorn. We have freshly popped popcorn (made by my husband, Dan, on the stove top) almost every Sunday night.  Since this treat is so popular with us, my daughter decided to have a popcorn family night a few years ago.

Sculpting Popcorn Snowmen was a highlight of the night-especially when we were able to eat them!  I made a basic popcorn ball recipe and everyone had to make their own snowman, adding details with candies and Fruit Roll-Ups.

Basic Recipe:
1 bag plain microwave popcorn (you could use air-popped or pop kernels on the stove in a pot-one bag equals 6-7 cups popped popcorn)
4 tablespoons butter
4 cups mini marshmallows
Large bowl and spoon

1. Microwave the popcorn.  Set aside.
2. In a large, microwavable bowl, microwave the butter on high until just melted.
3. Add marshmallows and stir.  Microwave 2 to 3 minutes-1 minute at a time.  Stir until smooth after each minute.
4. Add popcorn. Mix until evenly coated.
Note: Always let popcorn mixture cool before working it with hands. Double recipe if needed.

To build your snowmen, make the basic recipe.  Each person butters hands and shapes popcorn into 2 balls-one large and one small. Provide icing (use 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 3/4 teaspoon water) to "glue" your 2 popcorn balls together.  Use icing to stick candies- like mini M&M's, red hots, etc. (for eyes, nose, mouth) and Fruit Roll-Ups and gum drops (hats, scarves)-onto snowmen.  Eat and enjoy!!

We also had games with the popcorn.  One of the games we played was blowing a piece of popcorn across the length of the table with a straw.  The first one to blow their popcorn to the other side won!
Another variation of this could be to tape a plastic cup to the center of a table for each player (be sure cup rim touches the table).  Set a pile of popcorn at the edge of the table opposite the cups.  Everyone has 2 minutes to blow as many popcorn pieces into their cup as they can using a straw.  The player with the most pieces in his or her cup wins! Another game you can play is the Spoon Game.  Divide your family into 2 teams.  Give each team a bowl of popcorn and a spoon.  Put an empty bowl across the room.  When it is time to go, a person from each team scoops popcorn onto the spoon, dumps the popcorn into the empty bowl, and runs back to the next person.  Players can't hold the popcorn onto the spoons with their hands! If the popcorn falls off, the player must stop to put it back on.  The first team to empty its bowl wins!

I would love to hear other popcorn games that you know or fun recipes that you may have.  Happy popping!!