A WORD FROM THE KITCHEN:

For anyone hitting Halloween parties or just hanging with
the kiddos here's a fun last minute Halloween recipe HALLOWEEN
FUN POPCORN CRUNCH for you. This isn't something to pass out
like the good old days of popcorn balls and apples but for
parties or waiting for the doorbell to ring. This is also
great to bring to work for your co-workers to munch on!

Wondering how to perk up your carved pumpkin? Take a peek
below.

Hope you Enjoy!
Marzee Email Me

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

RECIPE: HALLOWEEN FUN POPCORN CRUNCH

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

INGREDIENTS:
8 c Popcorn
1/2 c Salted pumpkin seeds
1/2 c Dried cranberries or raisins
1/2 c Banana chips;broken into pieces
1 1/2 c Sugar
1/2 c Corn syrup
1/4 c Water
1/4 c Butter
1 ts Vanilla

DIRECTIONS:
In large buttered bowl, combine first 4 ingredients; set aside.
In medium saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup and water; bring
to a boil. Cook, covered 3 minutes. Uncover and cook, without
stirring, until mixture reaches hard-ball stage, 4-5 minutes.
Add butter and vanilla; cook, stirring 1 minute. Pour over
popcorn mixture; toss quickly to coat. Turn mixture out onto
greased baking sheet and spread using buttered hands.
Cool and break into pieces.

Category: Snacks, Seasonal, Halloween, Appetizers

*~*~*~*~*~*~* MARZEE's CORNER *~*~*~*~*~*~*~

PROLONGING THE LIFE OF A CARVED PUMPKIN:

After all of your effort carving that expert pumpkin,
wouldn't you want it's lifespan to be at least through
Halloween?

Pumpkins shrivel up after losing moisture so slowing
down the dehydration process and deterring the on-set of
mold will help make them last longer. You can usually
restore them back to their original condition by soaking
them in water overnight.

One technique is to coat all cut surfaces of the pumpkin
with petroleum jelly immediately after carving. This
includes a light coating of the entire inside of the pumpkin.
If you can't do the whole inside, at least try to coat the
design that you've cut. The petroleum jelly acts as a barrier
to seal in the pumpkins internal moisture to help slow down
the dehydration process of the pumpkin. You can use a finger
to coat the eyes, nose and mouth but you may want to use a
paper towel with jelly on it to coat the inside. It's less
messy that way.

* There are also spray pumpkin preserver products out there
if you can find them at a craft store.