Peanut Butter Cup Popcorn

Good Evening friends!

I hope this finds you well, escaping the heat (we are literally sweating to death AND unable to breath in the midwest today).  I am however looking forward to some possible good storms tonight.  No damage please Lord, just some heavy rain, LOUD thunder and BIG lightening, wind, I am going to need winds just under damaging gusts!  Now I can wrap my soul around that for sure!

You know what else I can wrap my soul around?  Chocolate, and popcorn, and peanut butter!  You are going to laugh when I tell you I got this recipe from the back of a popcorn bag.  Yep.  Tried it a few times for different gatherings and I just had to share it.  I mean cooomme on.  It requires a few steps, but nothing you can't handle, I promise.  Please in all seriousness be careful of flying hot popping in midair popcorn and super hot sugar syrup.  

Ready?

Here is what you will need.....

3 T oil (veg, canola, peanut)
1/3 cup of popcorn kernels
2 T melted butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup creamy (or chunky, I mean heck why not?) peanut butter
1/3 cup melted chocolate chips or chocolate almond bark, about 8 ounces
Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (mini's or reg cut into 4ths)

Heat oil in a large pot of medium heat.  When you suspect the oil is up to popping temp, toss in a couple of kernels and place the lid on the pot.  When they pop, add in the rest of the popcorn.  Let it go until the popping starts slowing down.  Now this is where things can get questionable.  Slowing down for some can mean something totally different than what popcorn thinks is slowing down and it so just pay attention.  I am still trying to get burned popcorn marks out of my favorite orange pot!

When it is popped place into a bowl large enough for mixing!  A big one!  Drizzle over melted butter and salt and toss to coat.  Set aside.

In a small-medium saucepan, add in honey and sugar.  Let heat and come to a boil, let boil for 2 minutes.  Remove immediately from heat, and add in peanut butter and vanilla.  When this mixture is combined completely drizzle over the popcorn.  Toss and fold and mix and repeat until all of the popcorn is coated or as coated as you would like it.  Pour on to a parchment lined cookie sheet and spread into a single layer.  Drizzle with melted chocolate and let cool completely then top or toss with peanut butter cups!

  You are VERY welcome

Fire Crackers!

Happy almost 4th of July my fellow Americans!  I hope you are celebrating safely, responsibly and abundantly!

I wanted to make sure and get this recipe out to you before the holiday.  The day before.....WINNING!  These are one of our favorites, right alongside a cold beer, or any cold drink but, let's face it, a cold beer, spicy crackers.....yes please.  There are lots of times I need a quick snack for company, or a get together and these are always a quick and easy crowd pleaser

You can adjust the heat to your taste.  They are called "fire crackers" for a reason though!  You are going to think a sparkler went off in your mouth, which will require the cold beer to or drink to put out the flames.  I have you covered, the fire, the water.  I am basically the whole package.

Here we go, make sure to adjust the heat to what you like but the recipe is written as I made it for us!  I use a Cajun spice.  Any one of your choice will work!

PS.  Don't make just one batch, double it up while you have everything out!

9-12 oz bag of oyster crackers
1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
5 T melted butter
1 packet dry ranch seasoning mix
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1/2 tsp parsley flakes

Preheat your oven to 275 degrees F.  You will need a large cookie sheet.  In a large bowl, melt your butter completely.  Add in oil, followed by all of your seasonings.  Mix to combine.  Add in oyster crackers and carefully stir them until they are all completely covered in the seasoning mixture!
Pour on to a cookie sheet and spread out into a single layer.  Bake for 15-25 minutes.  Stir at about 10 minutes and then let it go until they have absorbed the butter/oil/seasoning mixture.  When they are done, remove, stir again, and let sit for 10 minutes.  Pour into a bowl and snack away!  Keep in a Ziploc for freshness!

ENJOY and HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!