Celebrate Popcorn Poppin' Month With Fun Facts And Recipes

(NAPSI)-National Popcorn Poppin' Month is a great time to celebrate the nation's favorite munchable maize. Whether you make it sweet, savory, salty, plain or pumped up, this fun food is economical and good for you.

As a whole grain, popcorn provides carbohydrates and fiber and is naturally low in fat and calories. It's a great in-between-meal snack that satisfies but doesn't spoil your appetite.

Here are a few fun facts to munch on and a tasty recipe:

Americans consume 16 billion quarts of this whole grain, good-for-you treat every year. That's 52 quarts per man, woman and child.

Popcorn is one of the oldest American foods, used by Native Americans both as food and as decoration. One way Native Americans used to pop popcorn was to toss kernels in heated sand and sift them out after popping. By the 1870s, popcorn was sold in grocery stores and at concession stands at circuses, carnivals and street fairs.

The peak period for popcorn sales for home consumption is in the fall. Compared to most snack foods, popcorn is low in calories: Air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories per cup, oil-popped only 55 per cup.

Candy Corn Popcorn Balls

Fast, easy and colorful, these popcorn balls can be fun to make.

Makes: 8 (4-inch) balls

3 quarts popped popcorn

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter or margarine

3 cups miniature marshmallows

3 tablespoons (1/2 of a 3-ounce box) orange gelatin dessert mix

Candy corn, jelly beans, sour green apple candy sticks, licorice string, dried fruit, etc.

• Spray a large mixing bowl lightly with cooking spray and place popcorn inside.

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in marshmallows and gelatin dessert powder until marshmallows are melted and mixture is smooth. Pour over popcorn and mix well until coated.

• Spray hands with cooking spray and press firmly to form into balls. Place balls on wax paper. Press candy decorations into balls to form eyes, a stem and a jack-o'-lantern grin. Serve immediately or wrap individually in plastic wrap for storage. Add a ribbon tie to plastic wrap as a decorative closure.

Cleanup tip: Soak saucepan before cleaning.

For more facts and recipes, visit www.popcorn.org.

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Tricked-Out Popcorn Treats

(NAPSI)-Halloween is the one time of the year you have the pleasure of eating candy corn, of pulling slimy innards from a pumpkin and roasting its seeds afterwards, and of throwing a costume party to exercise your creative genius.

If you celebrate the season, the following recipe may appeal to your inner child since it includes both candy corn and popcorn. Popcorn is another fall favorite, so well loved that October is officially National Popcorn Poppin' Month.

You can conjure up the spirit of Halloween past with this recipe for Halloween Heaven. Reminiscent of the popcorn ball--a onetime Halloween staple--this recipe builds on the basic marshmallow and popcorn structure by adding peanut butter for a little flavor and protein kick and then just the right amount of candy corn for holiday pizzazz.

Halloween Heaven

8 cups air-popped popcorn

7 ounces marshmallow cream

½ cup reduced-fat peanut butter

1 cup candy corn

Combine marshmallow cream and peanut butter in a large bowl; mix until smooth.

Stir in popcorn and candy corn and mix until coated evenly.

Drop by heaping spoonfuls on wax paper or nonstick surface and allow to cool. Store in airtight container.

Looking for a quick, healthful alternative to handing out candy this year?

Try your hand at creating these festive treats featuring healthful, whole grain popcorn.

Haunted Popcorn Hands

Clear polyethylene food-service gloves

Candy corn

Popcorn

Ribbon or yarn

Place 1-3 pieces of candy corn at the end of each finger (depending on size of glove), pointy side first, to make fingernails. Fill the glove with popcorn and tie it off with ribbon or yarn.

For tasty recipes, fun facts, popcorn trivia and more, visit www.popcorn.org.

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