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| Tricks and treats - Popcorn makes healthy, fun holiday snacks |
provider writes, "Bet you didn't know October is National Popcorn Poppin' Month.
For more than 25 years, October has been celebrated as a monthlong ode to popped popcorn, but it only became "official" in 1999 when then-Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman proclaimed it as National Popcorn Poppin' Month.
It just seems appropriate that it was Glickman who succeeded in getting popcorn top billing. In July, the Motion Picture Assn. of America named Glickman as its new president and chief executive officer.
And, after all, what snack could be more identified with movies than popcorn?"
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But this light, fluffy treat isn't only enjoyed in movie theaters. It has been a part of snacking at Halloween too.
Whether fashioned into spooky decorations or robed in sugary syrup and formed into scary sweet popcorn balls, popcorn's as much a part of this kid-friendly, harvest-time holiday as costumes and candy bars.
Susan Krumm, an agent in family and consumer sciences with K-State Research and Extension-Douglas County, offers a few tips on ways to make popcorn a part of your Halloween celebration.
The first one is that longtime, sticky favorite: popcorn balls. But there are a few important things to keep in mind.
"When you are making a syrup for the popcorn balls, the syrup is extremely hot, and so as a result you really need to be cautious stirring it. You want to stir it with a wooden spoon. A metal spoon would get hot and burn your hand," Krumm says.
"You also want to continually stir the syrup so it doesn't start scorching on the bottom of the pan. It's extremely important to use a candy thermometer; otherwise, you'll either get too soft or too hard of a syrup."
Remember that when it's time to put your hands into the popcorn-syrup mixture, it's hot. You might want to butter your hands first, to protect them, or let the mixture cool down slightly so you don't burn your hands in the process.
If you want to tint your popcorn balls a festive color (think orange), you need to give some thought to food coloring.
"There are basically three kinds (sold) today. You could either go with the liquid, powder or paste form. When you're going with a darker color, it's easier to get that darker color with a paste or powder. And you would need to find that at a cake decorating store," Krumm says.
Another popcorn treat Krumm likes are "Halloween Hands." They are plastic, disposable gloves stuffed with freshly popped popcorn, then candy corns are placed inside the fingers to look like pointy fingernails. To finish the "Halloween Hands," tie the gloves at the bottom with yarn or string.
"Then you have a healthy Halloween snack in a fun container," Krumm says.
By Jim Baker, Journal-World
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Posted on Oct 28, 2004 18:45pm.
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