Monthly Archives: February 2013

How to Make DIY Popcorn Goody Bags for Spring

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DIY Popcorn Goody BagsWith the days getting a little longer and with the winter freeze slowly thawing out, there’s no doubt that spring is slowly peeking out from its hiding place! To welcome the sweet-smelling flowers that’ll soon be popping up everywhere, we came up with these charming DIY popcorn goody bags for your first big springtime bash. They’re not just easy and cheap to make; they’re sure to spread some sunny (and delicious) cheer to all of your friends too!

What You’ll Need

Popcorn
Brown paper bags (one per guest)
White paper doilies (one per guest)
Double-sided tape
Twine
Hole puncher

Directions

Paper Bag Filled With Popcorn and Sealed With Double-Sided Tape

  1. Fill a paper bag with your guest’s favorite springtime popcorn. Seal the mouth of the bag shut by placing a strip of double-sided tape along the inside edge of the bag and pressing the two sides of the bag together.
    Mouth of Paper Bag Folded and Held in Place With Double-Sided Tape
  2. Fold the top of the bag down about 1 or 2 inches (depending on how full the bag is). Stick some more double-sided tape onto the inside of the flap and attach the flap to the side of the bag.
    Doily Folded in Half and Trimmed to Fit on Top of Paper Bag
  3. Lay a paper doily flat on the table and fold it in half. Sit the folded doily on top of the sealed paper bag so that it creates a half-circle flap on both sides of the bag. Use the double-sided tape to attach the two doily flaps to the bag and keep them in place. If the doily is too big and extends past the outside edges of the bag, simply trim the doily so that its edges are flush with the edges of the bag. Tip: You can use your trimmings as borders along the bottom edge of the bag, like we did here. Just put some clear double-sided tape on the back of the doily trimming and stick it directly onto the face of the bag.Two Holes Punched Into the Top of the Doily-Lined Paper Bag
  4. With a hole puncher, punch two holes (about 1/2 inch apart) close to the top of the bag. They should be directly in the center of the half-moon shape that’s created by the folded doily.
    Doily-Lined Paper Bag Tied Shut With Twine
  5. Sew the twine through the two holes so that both ends of the twine are hanging from the same side of the bag. Tie the twine into a bow to give your goody bag a beautiful finishing touch.

What other popcorn crafts will you make to welcome the warm, bright days of spring?

The Popcorn Bar: A Sophisticated Way to Serve Popcorn at Your Party

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Popcorn BarHaving friends over for an evening of elegant dining? Treat them to five-star snack service with an upscale popcorn bar. Here’s how you can turn a few fancy champagne glasses and pitchers into black-tie attire for your sweet and salty delicacy. Cheers!

How to Make Popcorn Cone Champagne Glasses

What You’ll Need

Square-shaped cardstock (one sheet per cone)
Double-sided adhesive tape
Champagne glasses (one per cone)
Popcorn

Directions

Cardstock Used to Create Popcorn Cone

  1. Lay a sheet of cardstock flat on a table so that it looks like a diamond. If one side is blank, make sure that side is facing up.
    How to Fold Cardstock to Create a Paper Cone
  2. To create the base of the cone, fold the bottom corner of the diamond up toward the top corner. Secure the folded corner in place with double-sided tape.
    How to Roll Cardstock Into a Cone for Popcorn
  3. Starting at the left corner of the diamond, gently roll the paper from left to right to create a cone shape. Make the cone wide enough so that it comfortably sits inside the champagne glass.
    Popcorn Cones Served in Champagne Glasses
  4. Fill the cone with popcorn and place it in the champagne glass. Repeat the process to create one glass for each guest. Then, set the glasses on a serving tray for a chic display!

Popcorn Toppings Served in Shot GlassesComplete the sophisticated bar theme by filling up a few large pitchers with different gourmet popcorn flavors, then pouring various popcorn seasonings into shot glasses. Here are a few toppings you might want to consider serving:

  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • Paprika
  • Chocolate syrup
  • Caramel sauce
  • Cinnamon

To cap it off, lay out some salted pretzels, chocolate-covered pretzels, and chocolate candy on the table so your guests can create their own popcorn cocktail. The swanky fun will flow all night long, guaranteed!

How do you like to serve popcorn at your formal dinner soirees?

Popcorn and Movie Pairings for Oscar Night

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The Popcorn Factory's Clear Favorites CollectionWaiting to see if your favorite movie will nab the most awards on Oscar night? Stop biting your nails in anticipation and munch on some popcorn instead! To help you cheer on your top-pick flick while you’re watching from home on February 24, we’ve paired a few larger-than-life Oscar nominees with equally epic popcorn flavors. So without further ado, let’s announce the popcorn winners! The envelope, please. …

Argo Movie PosterOscar Nominee: “Argo”
Award for Best Popcorn Pair Goes To: Drizzled Butter Toffee Almond Pretzel Corn
Why It Got Our Vote: A film about the real-life mission to rescue six U.S. diplomats from revolutionary Iran, “Argo” is crammed with action and suspense … and this popcorn flavor doesn’t fall far behind. This thriller of a snack keeps the surprises coming: First it caresses Drizzled Butter Toffee Almond Pretzel Cornyou with the sweetness of chocolate and butter toffee, and then it hits you with the saltiness of pretzels and almonds. If you like how “Argo” keeps you on your toes, you won’t be disappointed by this exciting popcorn flavor.

Django Unchained Movie PosterOscar Nominee: “Django Unchained”
Award for Best Popcorn Pair Goes To: Buffalo Ranch Popcorn
Why It Got Our Vote: In the latest Quentin Tarantino blockbuster, a former slave uses his training as a bounty hunter to save his wife from a low-down, good-for-nothin’ plantation owner. This southern tale is mixed Buffalo Ranch Popcornwith plenty of western flavor, so it deserves to be partnered with nothing but the zestiest popcorn in town. To do this gunslinging movie justice, you gotta enjoy it with the tongue-zinging taste of buffalo ranch popcorn.

Les Miserables Movie PosterOscar Nominee: “Les Misérables”
Award for Best Popcorn Pair Goes To: Double Cheese Popcorn
Why It Got Our Vote: This tear-jerking musical, which is based on the hit Broadway show, takes place in 19th-century France and tells the story of how the life of prisoner Jean Valjean is changed when he’s entrusted to care for a young girl named Cosette. What could be a more proper ode to a film Double Cheese Popcornthat so beautifully tugs at your heartstrings than double cheese popcorn? It has two times the comforting cheesy flavor of ordinary cheddar popcorn … and cheese is a delicacy in France, oui?

Life of Pi Movie PosterOscar Nominee: “Life of Pi”
Award for Best Popcorn Pair Goes To: Coconut Popcorn
Why It Got Our Vote: A truly grand saga of adventure with breathtaking imagery, “Life of Pi” is a film about a shipwrecked boy who fights for survival alongside his only friend … a Bengal tiger. For a snack experience Coconut Popcornthat’s just as exotic and unique as this film’s storyline,try the extraordinary flavor combination of popcorn and coconut. After your first bite, it won’t be long before you start daydreaming about being a castaway on your own magical ocean!

Zero Dark Thirty Movie PosterOscar Nominee: “Zero Dark Thirty”
Award for Best Popcorn Pair Goes To: Peanut Brittle Popcorn
Why It Got Our Vote: You can’t help but feel besieged with a sense of nationalism when you watch this flick: It’s a blood-tingling account of the 10-year hunt of Osama bin Laden after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center. If your heart belongs to this Peanut Butter Brittle Popcornmovie, then keep marching to the beat of the patriotic drum and chow down on peanut brittle popcorn while you watch the Oscars. It brings together two all-American favorites for a truly original flavor that could only be made in the USA.

Which popcorn flavors would you match with your favorite Oscar-nominated movie?