Valentine’s Day is one of those “holidays” that some people love and others love to hate. Is it a real holiday or is it just a marketing scheme from card makers and candy and flower companies? As a high school teacher, it was always one of the worst days of the school year.
Students were hopped up on sugar and hormones. Someone (actually, many someones) always ended up in tears and a whole lot of money and drama went into the whole thing. I was always amazed at the money shelled out by couples whose relationship might very well last only a week or two. Some of the “singles” moped around depressed and alone and others tried to make light of it by dubbing the day “Single Awareness Day” and by wearing heart stickers with the SAD acronym scrawled across them. Oh the joys of high school…
Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to make delicious and festive treats–lots of chocolate, sprinkles, and heart-shaped candy. Drown your sorrows in sugar? This popcorn is an easy way to make something festive and sweet for the upcoming Valentine’s Day. We bagged it up and handed it out as a party favor for my daughter’s birthday party this weekend, and we will probably give some to teachers and friends as well.
Valentine Popcorn Mix
Ingredients:
- 24 ounce package of vanilla almond bark (candy coating sold near the chocolate chips at the grocery store)
- 16-20 cups of popped popcorn, with unpopped kernels and hard pieces removed
- 1-2 cups Valentine candy corn (sold in a plastic tub at Wal-mart)
- 1-2 cups salted dry roasted peanuts
- 1-2 cups Valentine colored M & M candies
- a few sprinkles of salt
*If you can’t find the candy corn or you don’t like it, substitute another candy, pretzels, or dried fruit. You might also add Valentine candy sprinkles for more color.
Instructions:
- Melt the entire package of almond bark low and slow. (Note: I recommend using a double-boiler. I just place the candy coating in a bowl or pot on top of a pot of water and let it melt while I prepare everything else. Fill pot with water so that the water level is just below the pot or bowl on top. Turn heat about half-way between low and medium. If the water starts boiling, turn it down even lower. Stir occasionally as it melts.) If you do not use the double-boiler method, you should assemble your other ingredients first and melt the bark last.
- While the bark is melting, pop the popcorn and place into the largest bowl you can find. Add candy corn, peanuts, and M & M candies. Line a counter or table with parchment or wax paper for drying the popcorn later.
I overfill a gallon pitcher to get the right amount of popcorn. 
- When the almond bark has melted, pour it over the bowl of popcorn and mix very thoroughly until all the corn is coated. Add a few sprinkles of salt and mix again.
- Pour the popcorn mixture out onto the parchment or wax paper in a single layer. Allow to dry and then package in treat bags to give as gifts or put in a bowl for serving.
- Popcorn can be stored in an airtight container and will stay fresh for many days.
Source: Plain Chicken
