EDIBLES
Warm, pop-able treats perfect for sharing

(Family Features) On a cold winter night, there’s nothing quite like the combination of playing games and indulging in delicious popcorn treats.
Fuzzy blankets and a roaring fire can create a warm, inviting ambiance that inspires loved ones to settle in for some time together on those blustery, cold days. The friendly competition of a classic board game or thrilling virtual reality battle can generate energy and excitement while the smell of freshly popped popcorn heightens the atmosphere. With each pop and crunch, the night is transformed into a cozy and memorable experience, creating cherished moments that will be remembered long after the snow has melted.
For added ambiance, pull out your cocktail glasses for a clever way to serve Old Fashioned Bourbon Maple Popcorn with Pecans. Accented with bourbon, orange and bitters, this maple-glazed popcorn is a fun cocktail-inspired snack for sharing with or without the alcohol.
If you’re one who favors spicy heat, this Spicy Korean Barbecue Popcorn won’t disappoint. This sweet and spicy snack delivers a delicious explosion of flavor in every bite, making it a perfect addition to a finger food buffet or self-serve snack station.
There’s nothing quite like coffee to warm up a winter day, and when combined with cocoa, it creates a perfect snack that’s both sweet and surprising in this Mocha Popcorn. For another easy treat that turns up the temperature, consider this Sugar and Spice Popcorn that combines sweet and heat in a craveable winter mix.
Explore more ideas to warm up your winter entertaining at popcorn.org.

Old Fashioned Bourbon Maple Popcorn with Pecans
Servings: 4-6
- 8 cups popped popcorn
- 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon bourbon
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 dash bitters
- Place popcorn and pecans in large bowl.
- In small saucepan over medium-high heat, combine maple syrup, bourbon and butter; bring to boil. Cook, swirling pan, 3-5 minutes, or until mixture thickens to corn syrup consistency. Stir in orange zest and bitters.
- Drizzle maple syrup mixture over popcorn; toss to evenly coat. Cool completely and serve.
Tips: Substitute bourbon with rye or whiskey. For “mocktail” popcorn, substitute with non-alcoholic bourbon or whiskey.

Spicy Korean Barbecue Popcorn
Servings: 4-6
- 8 cups popcorn
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chili paste)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon gochujaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 green onion, thinly sliced (optional)
- Place popcorn in large bowl.
- In small saucepan, combine honey, brown sugar, butter, sesame oil, gochujang, soy sauce and garlic powder; bring to boil. Cook 3-5 minutes, or until mixture thickens to syrupy consistency.
- Drizzle honey mixture over popcorn and sprinkle with sesame seeds and gochujaru; toss to evenly coat. Garnish with green onion, if desired. Serve immediately or cool completely.
Tip: Substitute green onion with 1 teaspoon freeze-dried chives, if preferred.

Mocha Popcorn
Yield: about 6 quarts
- 6 quarts popped popcorn
- nonstick cooking spray
- 3 cups sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
- 1 tablespoon espresso powder or instant coffee granules
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- Place popcorn in large bowl sprayed with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- Line baking sheet or work surface with waxed paper or foil.
- In large saucepan, stir sugar, cocoa, instant coffee and milk. Cook until mixture registers 250 F on candy thermometer, stirring occasionally.
- Pour hot mixture over popcorn; stir to coat popcorn completely.
- Spread popcorn onto prepared surface and allow to cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Break into pieces to serve. Store in airtight container.

Sugar and Spice Popcorn
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 quarts (8 cups) air-popped popcorn
- butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray
- In small bowl, combine brown sugar, chili powder, paprika and cumin; mix well.
- Place cooked popcorn in separate bowl; spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray and sprinkle with spice mixture.
- Toss to mix until kernels are coated. Store in airtight container.
SOURCE:
Popcorn Board
EDIBLES
Create a savvy weeknight family meal
(Family Features) Because this time of year can be crazy busy, drive-thru meals can easily become the norm. While fast-food burgers may do the trick once in a while, they can get old quick if your family is eating them every other night. This quick and easy Baked Spaghetti can bring everybody back to the table and it won’t break the bank either. Find more weeknight dinner inspiration at Culinary.net.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!
Baked Spaghetti
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 4-6
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound spaghetti noodles
- 1 jar (16 ounces) alfredo sauce
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- French bread or breadsticks, for serving
- Heat oven to 350 F.
- Brown and drain ground beef. Cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain noodles; add alfredo sauce and mix well.
- Add marinara sauce, garlic powder and onion powder to ground beef. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Place noodles in 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spoon beef mixture on top but do not mix in. Cover with shredded cheese then cover with foil and bake 30-40 minutes.
- Serve with French bread or breadsticks.
SOURCE:
Culinary.net
EDIBLES
Bring warmth to winter with a filing family dinner

(Family Features) Hearty, comforting foods that go perfectly with cold weather may be some of your family’s favorites, but if all those filling meals are starting to (literally) weigh you down, it’s time for a better-for-you spin.
Add a superfood to your winter menu for cold-weather dishes you can feel good about serving to your loved ones. Sweetpotatoes, known as a “diabetes superfood” by the American Diabetes Association, are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, all of which are good for overall health. They’re a natural sweetener for that “sweet” flavor you crave without the added sugar, making them a perfect addition to this Cheesy Sweetpotato Casserole made with sweetpotato puree, warm spices and ground turkey.
A healthy and easy weeknight dinner, this creative spin on a classic casserole takes advantage of sweetpotatoes’ sweet, savory versatility. They enhance both flavor and nutrition content in simple and elevated recipes alike. Plus, they can be cooked and prepared in several ways, such as on the stove, baked, microwaved, grilled, slow cooked or, in this case, boiled and pureed.
Visit ncsweetpotatoes.com to discover more ways to cook better-for-you family meals this winter. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NpMfx1ZUyBo?si=EZZcgfdjC5sFWSNb&controls=0

Cheesy Sweetpotato Casserole
Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission
Servings: 6
- 1 medium North Carolina sweetpotato
- 16 ounces shell pasta (or any kind of noodle)
Ground Turkey:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon powdered mustard
Cheese Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons tomato puree
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (or any kind of broth)
- 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese, plus additional for topping (optional)
- salt, to taste
- nonstick cooking spray
- fresh parsley, for garnish
- Peel sweetpotato and chop into 1-inch cubes. Place in pot and cover with water. Bring to boil over high heat. Cook 13-15 minutes until sweetpotatoes are tender. Drain and let cool 2-3 minutes then puree in food processor or blender.
- Bring large pot of water to boil. Add shell pasta. Cook until slightly harder than al dente as it will continue to cook in oven.
- Strain pasta, rinse with cold water and set aside.
- To make ground turkey: Heat large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil. When olive oil is fragrant, add ground turkey. Break turkey into small pieces. Mix in onion, garlic powder, salt, ground pepper and powdered mustard; cook 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- To make cheese sauce: Heat oven to 375 F and place sweetpotato puree in blender or food processor with tomato puree, chicken broth, 1 cup shredded cheese and salt, to taste. Blend until combined and sauce is smooth.
- Spray 9-by-13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place noodles, ground turkey and sweetpotato sauce in casserole dish and mix until coated in sweetpotato cheese sauce. Sprinkle with additional shredded cheese, if desired, and bake 15 minutes.
- Remove, let cool 10 minutes and sprinkle with fresh parsley.
EDIBLES
Kick off a winning game day with guac

Touchdown-worthy apps to amp up the crowd
(Family Features) The best watch parties have two things in common: good food and good company to root for your team with. Kick off your football feast with appetizers made with a game day favorite: avocados.
With nearly 2.5 billion pounds of avocados imported from Mexico annually, based on Hass Avocado Board Volume Data, the Big Game is the No. 1 occasion where avocados and guacamole are served and prepared. In fact, approximately 250 million pounds of avocados are imported in the weeks leading up to the Big Game, according to “Produce Blue Book” – that’s enough avocados to go down and back the length of a standard professional football field more than 400,000 times.
Just as the first quarter sets the tone for the game, apps are your first opportunity to build excitement and get your guests cheering. Because it’s not game day without guac, start the party by mashing up a bowl of Championship Guac – a real craving crusher made with creamy, delicious Avocados From Mexico and crispy bacon – to sack hunger.
Take your viewing party to a whole new flavor level with Gronkamole. This all-star dip features shredded chicken, blue cheese, Buffalo sauce and the same flare that football great and Avocados From Mexico partner Rob Gronkowski played the game with, so you know it’s ready to tackle every chip, cracker and veggie thrown its way.
These innovative spins on game day guacamole score big when made with fresh avocados, a nutrient-dense fruit everybody can cheer for. They taste good, are good for you and bring the good times on game day.
Find more touchdown-worthy eats, from dips and appetizers to main courses and desserts that are always good at BigGameGuac.com.

Championship Guac
Servings: 10
- 5 Avocados From Mexico, peeled and pitted
- 1 lemon, juice only
- 1/2 cup white onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 pound bacon, fried
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- tortilla chips, for serving (optional)
- crackers, for serving (optional)
- To prepare avocado: In a bowl, use fork to mash the avocados and lemon juice until creamy. Then add the onion, tomatoes and cilantro.
- To prepare bacon: Cut the bacon into squares then place it in a hot skillet over medium heat and cook 15 minutes, or until golden. Transfer to a plate to drain excess fat and let cool.
- To prepare guacamole: Add the bacon, garlic powder, salt and pepper, to taste, to the guacamole; mix well.
- To serve, put guacamole in bowl and serve with tortilla chips or crackers, if desired.

Gronkamole
Avocados From Mexico partner Rob Gronkowski’s favorite guacamole recipe
Servings: 4
- 2 Avocados From Mexico
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3/4 cup chicken breast, cooked and shredded
- 1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled
- 3 tablespoons Buffalo sauce
- salt, to taste
- corn chips, for serving (optional)
- carrot sticks, for serving (optional)
- In a small bowl, mash avocados and stir in lemon juice.
- Add chicken, blue cheese and Buffalo sauce to guacamole mixture. Add salt, to taste.
- Serve with corn chips or carrot sticks, if desired.
SOURCE:
Avocados From Mexico
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