(NAPSA)—Often defined as a time of quiet hibernation, winter is, in fact, one of the busiest times of the year. Consider the numerous celebratory occasions that begin with the harvest and continue on through the holidays and beyond, not to mention all the fun andfrosty get-togethers prompted by skiing, skating andsledding. Keep popcorn on hand and you’re only minutes away from a satisfying and healthful treat. When friends drop in or as you make your way through neighborhood parties, pop up some wintertime fun by making these simple anddelicious popcorn treats. The following recipes vary a basic method: melt chocolate, drizzle over popcorn and mix in flavorings or sprinkles. You can easily adapt these for any numberof occasions—substitute holiday sprinkles with colors of your favorite Super Bowl team,red for Valentine’s Day, green for St. Patrick’s Day and so on. You’ll love having this quick “go-to” in yourrecipefile. Easy, Elegant Holiday Popcorn Yield: 8 cups Ingredients: 8 cups popped popcorn 2 ounces white chocolate, melted 2 ounces dark chocolate, melted Red and green holiday sprinkles Directions: 1. Place popcorn on a large baking sheet. Set aside. 2. Drizzle popcorn with melted white chocolate and melted dark chocolate. 3. Scatter sprinkles over top. Let stand until chocolateis set. 4, Break into clusters if needed. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Red and green sprinkles, choco- late and popcorn make a happy wintertreat. 2. Place popcorn in a large bow]; set aside. 3. Melt chocolate in a double boiler OR according to packagedirections. 4, Stir in crushed peppermints after chocolate is melted. 5. Pour chocolate mixture over popcorn mixture andstir to coat. 6. Spread onto prepared pan; allow to cool completely. 7. When chocolate is set, break into chunksfor serving. 8. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Variation: Cranberries & Almond Bark Omit candy peppermints. Mix % cup dried sweetened cranberries and % cup sliced almonds with the popcorn. Pour chocolate over the mixture after it is melted. With these, you can create gourmet gifts for friends and neighbors, and munchable snacks for the whole family. You'll find more creative wintertime recipes at www.popcorn.org. White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn Bark Yield: 1 pound Ingredients: 5 cups popped popcorn 12 ounces white chocolate, melted 1 cup crushed hard candy peppermints Directions: 1. Cover a baking pan with foil or wax paper; set aside. sommes White chocolate and peppermint plus popcorn can bring warmth to the coldest night.
