Family Foxhole

At least some of the days this month, we’re sharing things we’re thankful for. Today, from Honey:

“I’m grateful for farmers, whose work feeds the world.”

At least some of the days this month, we’re sharing things we’re thankful for. Today, from Bananas:

“I’m grateful for snuggles with my mommy.”

Mother and Child by Edna Hibels.

Don’t get invited to many parties? Bring this to one, and you’ll soon find your social calendar full. Why? It combines all the things humans crave: sugar, butter, salt, and bacon.

• 1 bag of Kraft caramels, unwrapped
• 3 Tbs butter
• 1 Tbs water
• 10 cups popcorn (Do everyone a favor and make sure it doesn’t include any unpopped kernels)
• 4-8 slices of bacon

You might never develop a sparkling personality, quick wit, or warmth that makes everyone want to be your best friend, but you can always bring this caramel corn to parties.

Heat oven to 425. Fit a metal cooling rack inside a shallow baking pan. Place bacon on rack and cook for 15 minutes, then check. Cook for another 3 minutes at a time until bacon reaches about 80% done. (So, this will vary according to how crispy you like your bacon. I like my slightly chewy.) Remove from oven and cool. Drain fat for another use, and use kitchen shears to cut bacon into pieces about 1/2 inch long.

Reduce oven heat to 300 degrees.

Add caramels, butter, and water in a Dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Melt over medium-low heat.

If in a Dutch oven, add bacon and 10 c. popcorn; if in a saucepan, mix bacon and popcorn in a large bowl, then pour caramel mixture over the mix.

Pour popcorn into greased pan. Place in oven for 15 minutes, then stir and bake for another 5-10 minutes, checking regularly.

Place on wax paper or parchment paper to cool.

Want more recipes for popcorn snacks? Check out our Movie Theater Floor Snack Mix or Sriracha Caramel Corn.

It’s maybe my favorite kind of caramel corn: sweet, a little salty, and a little (or a lot) hot.

• 1 bag of Kraft caramels, unwrapped
• 3 Tbs butter
• 1 Tbs water
• 2 Tbs of Sriracha or more to taste (if adding more, reduce water slightly)
• 10 cups popcorn (Do everyone a favor and make sure it doesn’t include any unpopped kernels)

You can’t see what makes this special, but you’ll be able to taste it.

Heat oven to 300. Grease a roasting pan.

Add caramels, butter, water, and Sriracha in a Dutch oven or a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Melt over medium-low heat.

If in a Dutch oven, add 10 c. popcorn; if in a saucepan, pour caramel mixture over popcorn in a large bowl.

Pour popcorn into greased pan. Place in oven for 15 minutes, then stir and bake for another 5-10 minutes, checking regularly.

Place on wax paper or parchment paper to cool.

Want to eat more whole grains while also making a recipe that involves both Swedish Fish AND Fritos? Check out our recipe for Movie Theater Floor Popcorn.

If you’ve invited me to your wedding in the past 15 years, you probably own an Atom Popper because it’s one of my two favorite wedding gifts (the other is a fire extinguisher). Trust me: if you are going to a wedding, these are welcome gifts, especially if you include a card with a $50 gift card.

Because we eat a lot of popcorn, this is one of the most used cooking tools in our kitchen, and we’re now on our third. (They are long lasting–we’re just hard on them.) The popcorn pops up light and fluffy, and it’s fun to watch the lid rise as the bowl fills. It’s sweetly old fashioned but easier to use than a crank popcorn popper. It’s also cheaper than most air poppers and easier to store. And if you go on a low-carb diet in the future, you can use it as a salad bowl.

You can buy the Atom Popper online or in some stores in the Midwest.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing several popcorn recipes, and I always start with popcorn made with an Atom Popper.

At least some of the days this month, we’re sharing things we’re thankful for. Today, from Honey:

“I’m thankful for dark skies in the early evening, reminding us to come home, get cozy, snuggle in, and conserve our energy for the things we love best.”

From the Smithsonian’s animated online series, The Secret World of Animal Sleep, short online videos perfect for bedtime.

At least some of the days this month, we’re sharing things we’re thankful for. Today, from Bananas:

“I’m thankful for friends who play soccer with me at recess.”

At least some of the days this month, we’re sharing things we’re thankful for. Today, from Mr. Prickles. Lamb, and Bananas:

At least some of the days this month, we’re sharing things we’re thankful for. Today, from Mr. Prickles:

At least some of the days this month, we’re sharing things we’re thankful for. Today, from Honey:

“I’m thankful for people who work third shift in necessary jobs–nurses, doctors, firefighters, and others willing to give up their sleep to keep us safe and healthy.”

Jessie Hartland’s Night Shift tells the stories of people who work while the rest of us sleep. In the book, each worker–a zookeeper, a donut baker, a windowdresser–connect through their work.