Kaleidoscope Popcorn (makes 50 cups of popcorn)

By Vickie Chynoweth

This recipe can be used for any holiday or celebration. Choose the flavor and color of jello that goes best with event. For example, you could choose red for Lunar New Year, green for Saint Patrick’s day, pink for a princess-themed birthday, blue and green for our Seattle Seahawks game days, and many other color combinations to highlight your event.

Kaleidoscope means “observer of beautiful forms,” from the Greek work kalos (“beautiful”) and eidos (“shape”).

Ingredients:

Fruit Flavor Popcorn

1 package (3 ounces) flavored jello

10 cups popped corn

1/2 cup unsalted butter

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup unsalted mixed nuts (optional)

Jello Flavors, 3 ounces: Island Pineapple, Orange, Berry Blue, Lime and Cherry

You will also need:

1 large paper bag

Cooking spray

Directions:

1. Make popcorn according to directions on package. (I use an air popcorn popper.) You will need to make 10 cups for each flavor of jello.

2. Lightly spray inside of paper bag. Add 10 cups of popcorn and set aside. You will need a paper bag for each flavor of jello.

3. In a medium sized saucepan melt butter, sugar, corn syrup and jello. Place on medium heat. Stir constantly until sugar mixture come to a boil. Take off heat and stir in baking soda. Mixture will foam up. Stir until mixture throughout resembles foam.

4. Pour sugar foam mixture over popcorn. Close bag and roll down top. Shake bag of popcorn. Place in microwave for 90 seconds. Using a town or potholder, take bag out of microwave, it will be hot. Shake well and place back in microwave for 60 seconds. Repeat, take out of microwave. Add mixed nuts. Shake well and return back to microwave for 30 seconds. Shake again.

5. Pour flavored popcorn out on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Use a spoon to spread out popcorn as it will be hot.

6. Once cooled, break up any large clumps and place in an airtight container.