Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day:
St. Paddy’s Popcorn

Here’s a neat little project for making St. Paddy’s Popcorn. While you are at this, incorporate a science lesson based on why popcorn “pops.” At the end of the lesson, you’ll have a great treat as a reward!

Science Fun: check this link out for find out why popcorn pops --

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question255.htm -- How Stuff Works

St. Paddy’s Popcorn

Ingredients:

3 quarts of popped popcorn
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup light corn syrup
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
1/8 teaspoon green food coloring

Directions:

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (121 degrees C). Place the popcorn in a large, 4-inch deep, buttered baking pan. Keep warm in the oven. Butter a 15 ½ inch by 10 ½ inch pan. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in sugar, salt, and corn syrup. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil. Boil, without stirring, for five minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in peppermint extract and green food coloring. Remove popcorn from oven. Pour syrup mixture over popcorn and stir to mix well. Spread on buttered pan. Bake for one hour, stirring three or four times. Cool completely. Break or cut into pieces. Store in a tightly covered container.

Yield: three quarts

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