By Tina Scott

As far as homemade snacks go, popcorn is as good and healthy as they get. It’s a tasty whole grain food, and through the years, popcorn has been used for more than a movie theater snack or camp-fire treat. Many pioneers used it as a fancy garland on their Christmas tree, but popcorn dates back even further than the pioneers.

Recently, experts discovered popcorn over 4,000 years old in the Bat Caves in New Mexico. In 1519, Cortez invaded Mexico and discovered that the Aztec Indians not only used popcorn for eating, they also used it for decorating ceremonial headdresses, as necklaces and as ornaments on their statues. Today, Americans eat 17 billion quarts of popped popcorn each year. That averages out to around 54 quarts per person.

Popcorn is a sure winner as a Family Home Evening treat or any family gathering, but because of its versatility, the question is not when, but how to serve it. Here is one of my family’s popcorn favorites.

Popcorn S’mores
1 C. firmly packed brown sugar ½ C corn syrup
½ C (1 stick) butter or margarine ½ tsp baking soda
10 C freshly popped popcorn 1 C. choc. chips
1 (10 ½ oz) pkg miniature marshmallows
2 C. mini graham cookies (teddy bears)

Combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Cook over high heat for 5 minutes; remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Combine popcorn and marshmallows in large bowl. Pour sugar mixture over popcorn to coat. Gently stir in graham cookies and chocolate chips. Spread mixture evenly into greased 15×10 inch pan. Let cool completely. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.