Remember the “Popcorn Diet”? OMG, I think my aunt and her friends tired this back when the diet was popular. Weight control wasn’t an issue for me then but now is another story. So I did a little research and I am here to report that……. It’s not a good idea to eat popcorn in order to lose weight.
I was in the grocery store the other day and Crunch n’ Munch was on sale B.O.G.O. Crunch n’ Munch is one of my top ten favorite junk foods of all time. So when I saw the B.O.G.O. offer my first impulse was to buy 4 boxes. But I didn’t.! Will power at it’s best.
I continued shopping without a shopping list (be careful not to do this, it’s a dangerous habit), and realized I had just purchased all the ingredients necessary to make my own munchy snack. I can even try to make it healthier than the box version.
Recipe: Caramel Cashew Popcorn
3/4 cups Popcorn Kernels
1/2 cup Caramel sauce
1/2 cup Cashews (or your favorite nut)
1/4 cups Canola Oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
I add just enough oil to the pot to cover the bottom. Then heated the pot for about 30 seconds on high heat before adding in the popping kernels.
Make sure to cover the pot with a tight fitting lid, a party is about to “pop off” in about one minute.
This reminds me of something ~I start off very strong when working out, and then fizzle at the end. So did the popcorn. Stay close to your stove while cooking the kernels. The process goes very fast. Once the kernels start to pop slowly remove the pot from heat.
I was just about to stop the recipe here!!!!!!! OMG, fresh popped popcorn is addictive. I kept munching, I just couldn’t stop. It was a good thing my nephew Erick was there to save the day. He said in his squeaky-country voice ” I hope you plan on sharing that”, it’s wonderful having a 6 year old in the house, he keeps me laughing and in check.
Erick helped sprinkle in the nuts and then he dashed off into another room to play(bother) my youngest son.
Heating the caramel is very important, this allows you to get a really good drizzle, instead of clumps of caramel; which I’m pretty sure some of you wouldn’t mind.
Give the mixture a good toss and place in then oven and bake for 5 minutes. The baking step helps maintain the crunch of the popcorn and dries it a bit so all the caramel is not sticking to your hands. Again, I know a few people that wouldn’t mind caramel sticky hands! I’m one of them!
