(NAPSA)—Great gifts don’t have to break the bank. Giving a homemadetreat or supplying your recipient with the fixings to make a scrumptious nosh will win hearts and be gentle on your checkbook. With little effort, your gift can be one of the highlights of the season. If you’re heading out to a holiday party, bring both a snack and a gift basket filled with the raw ingredients and recipe. Your hostess can sample firsthand the gift you're giving her and it helps lighten her load. Providing a guiltfree snack to graze on will be a welcome and healthful alternative to yet another fat-laden treat. That’s why popcorn is a great option. Plain or buttered, sweetened or spiced, popcorn can be flavored or even combined with other foods like nuts, fruit or cheese to create a delicious and nutritious snack. As a whole-grain food, popcorn is a carbohydrate that is not only low in calories, but also a good source of fiber. It’s an ideal inbetween-meals snack because it satisfies but doesn’t spoil your appetite. For others on your list, whether you’re down to the wire or just beginning holiday shopping, simple gift ideas are sure to please. You can give a decorative tin filled with your favorite popcorn recipe or a basketfilled with the ingredients to make the popcorn treat. Add a favorite board game, DVD, movie rental passes, or a subscription to an online DVD rental service for an extra touch and—voila! Who knew holiday shopping could bestress-free, inexpensive and thoughtful? Spicy Italian Popcorn 10 cups hot, freshly popped popcorn A guilt-free snack to graze on is always a welcome gift. 2 tablespoonsolive oil % cup grated Parmesan and Romano cheese 1 teaspoon oregano %, teaspoon cayenne pepper % teaspoon garlic salt Drizzle olive oil over pop- corn in large bowl. e Add remaining ingredients; toss well. Yield: 10 servings Perfect Popcorn Popping Tips Warm a heavy pan with lid. Add % cup of vegetable oil to the pan, or just enough to cover the bottom. Drop in two or three kernels and cover. When the kernels pop, add the remaining popcorn. Pour just enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pan. Cover withlid. Shake the pan while the kernels heat and pop. Occasionally lift the lid slightly to allow steam to escape. When you hearthe last few pops, removethe pan from the heat, take off the lid and empty the popped popcorn into a large bowl. For more simple and tasty popcorn recipes, visit www.popcorn.org.
