Sticky Popcorn Cake with M&M's | Back to School

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzUxhDtd1o_dXm9vxmibdCCZqTv5zVhJuWvvz7QpyUv6iNc19H28B6LRho-d1kJESK7ud1zJiJMCeo9rMq0U6eCNlBoYAPRIJyMXOEi6etXQI_44ZvZ2erASZwXIjlF2b9KiFPnpOi9OJ/s1600/Back-to-School-Recipes-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzUxhDtd1o_dXm9vxmibdCCZqTv5zVhJuWvvz7QpyUv6iNc19H28B6LRho-d1kJESK7ud1zJiJMCeo9rMq0U6eCNlBoYAPRIJyMXOEi6etXQI_44ZvZ2erASZwXIjlF2b9KiFPnpOi9OJ/s640/Back-to-School-Recipes-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is Back to School Season!  I've put together a <a href="http://www.jennysteffens.com/backtoschool.html">Back to School Guide</a> that will make the beginning of the school year more fun (and manageable!).  These make ahead dinners, easy breakfast recipes and simple desserts will get an A+ from your kids... and will pass the parent taste test, too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jennysteffens.com/backtoschool.html">Click here to go directly to my Back to School Guide!</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh36nnBZFmznLWpY43hATCRpaf55GHAgdcZlDZuWo11kFYWuQUEt5h6Le1NQ0yHM7It_luH8dcG_JXix9Ry8kTGHtwYdcKBlNdxIgZIy2_xzP1Lir5K4eU46bxXmBMzVqXbB6j5tmeLEF/s1600/IMG_5303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh36nnBZFmznLWpY43hATCRpaf55GHAgdcZlDZuWo11kFYWuQUEt5h6Le1NQ0yHM7It_luH8dcG_JXix9Ry8kTGHtwYdcKBlNdxIgZIy2_xzP1Lir5K4eU46bxXmBMzVqXbB6j5tmeLEF/s640/IMG_5303.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Sticky Popcorn was another one of those recipes we were convinced my had Mom invented (like <a href="http://jennysteffens.blogspot.com/2011/08/pizza-bread-back-to-school-veggie-soup.html">Pizza Bread</a>).  It was melted marshmallows and popcorn stirred together to create and an ooey, gooey treat.  We would make it on Friday nights while we watch movies like Harry and the Hendersons or Adventures in Babysitting.  To top it all off, she would add food coloring to the melted marshmallows to tint the 'sticky' of the popcorn to pink, blue, purple, or green.  We thought that it was amazing.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />The concept behind "Sticky Popcorn" was the same as rice krispies or popcorn balls... melted butter and marshmallows heated together with rice krispies or popcorn added in.  The beauty of the sticky popcorn at our movie nights was that is was served warm, in big bowls.  To children.  To children who ate it with their hands.  We loved it!  We loved it so much that we always convinced our babysitters to let us make it.  I'm sure they loved the mess we made of ourselves, the kitchen and anything we touched with our food-coloring, sticky popcorn fingers.<br /><br />This tamed version of Sticky Popcorn, the Sticky Popcorn Cake, is a great version to make for bake sales, potlucks, back-to-school parties, sleepovers and birthdays.  It is also great to cut into slices for kids' lunches.  But, on movie nights at home, I recommend you make the original, messy version of Sticky Popcorn for your kids, too.   You can add M&M's, peanuts (but beware of peanut allergies these days...), chocolate chips, gummy worms, etc. to the original version or cake.  Whatever your kids will love.  Let them help!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Back to School Guide :</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Sticky Popcorn Cake with M&M's</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">2 bags of popcorn, popped</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">1 bag of marshmallows (10 oz.)</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">1 stick of butter</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">1 cup of M&M's</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">1 cup of peanuts</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a large bowl, melt butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds.  Add marshmallows and stir in with the butter.  Microwave the marshmallows and butter for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes (or more) until the marshmallows have puffed.  Stir together, breaking down the puffed marshmallows into a sticky sauce.  </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Add popped popcorn and nuts and stir together.  *I wait to plug the M&M's in the outside so they don't discolor the 'sticky' marshmallow sauce.  </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Butter or spray with cooking spray, a bunt pan.  Pour in popcorn mixture.  Cover and refrigerate or let sit for 1 hour.  To remove from the pan, loosen sides with a knife.  Transfer onto a cake stand or plate by placing the plate upside down on the bunt pan, then inverting it.  Cover with plastic wrap to keep it fresh.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01GKSwsZpLQiuT1-5pKoQ1DCHY5_pTAdx4Jl4BVPvNueCXCqbWEso_ttFQDveTJESSreS-Nhfqi2fJLIbakuCbyvXsl328J-i7uBTj9ciwMq241jXb7DutwSK0qUgl5Z0B3N6X25soDxu/s1600/IMG_5261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01GKSwsZpLQiuT1-5pKoQ1DCHY5_pTAdx4Jl4BVPvNueCXCqbWEso_ttFQDveTJESSreS-Nhfqi2fJLIbakuCbyvXsl328J-i7uBTj9ciwMq241jXb7DutwSK0qUgl5Z0B3N6X25soDxu/s640/IMG_5261.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I don't use enough marshmallows in my recipes.  They really are a great ingredient... I can't wait to make more homemade marshmallows this Fall and Winter for my hot chocolate. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66439Dy2AAaoTyssQ8tZeQQrRy3Tpt2YyLlpbK_STasHS2yI2XlhVxnlQlnoJT2or_Uyn62dS30wtP-6DjTq6CeCRI3NM7PMbAWL4Uhr4Lo05U9pJrO5o5tRas6J4Ne0kaRMHX0rZqUhK/s1600/IMG_5263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66439Dy2AAaoTyssQ8tZeQQrRy3Tpt2YyLlpbK_STasHS2yI2XlhVxnlQlnoJT2or_Uyn62dS30wtP-6DjTq6CeCRI3NM7PMbAWL4Uhr4Lo05U9pJrO5o5tRas6J4Ne0kaRMHX0rZqUhK/s640/IMG_5263.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Puffed marshmallows after the microwave. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1504DfCQYXRBLyM4derr0x9UXQXB16sAwltAEM3-xKsEdXLz5oc9xldiX0R1YMa8IZ45LGDV_L1YQv18ihgTol0bQroDYoetvoijHrpzrXXj8ML35nUX1o-0yJzgNBefiDP3NEPdYs4a/s1600/IMG_5264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1504DfCQYXRBLyM4derr0x9UXQXB16sAwltAEM3-xKsEdXLz5oc9xldiX0R1YMa8IZ45LGDV_L1YQv18ihgTol0bQroDYoetvoijHrpzrXXj8ML35nUX1o-0yJzgNBefiDP3NEPdYs4a/s640/IMG_5264.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The sticky... yum.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B90zZmHeqS-o16w4oaDhPKAXXe8gteQsP-AcImw76PQp9TQMQ9OtlhH75hMyYZthgp5rWwbTg8WG6up1i8Qv1bwlFHBge1gDdA6EjagxV_IkOS2pxs-g_KD_Ce22rusykYcrn15yf8xL/s1600/IMG_5270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B90zZmHeqS-o16w4oaDhPKAXXe8gteQsP-AcImw76PQp9TQMQ9OtlhH75hMyYZthgp5rWwbTg8WG6up1i8Qv1bwlFHBge1gDdA6EjagxV_IkOS2pxs-g_KD_Ce22rusykYcrn15yf8xL/s640/IMG_5270.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is how it was served to us for movie night.  What kid wouldn't love it? <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkr0ACL5TbToxzWA4PP52JyPZ-2cLU2hHpZi6kcc5PfcOKUi5ITSElOPpFPhGOiUmQ2NLeco7WDkqRq_zA-D79G1KqsZgYo_7i1-9Z7patOdg26BZNgNysDtgpbnws7Kf6C88PRGZ-bUmI/s1600/IMG_5272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkr0ACL5TbToxzWA4PP52JyPZ-2cLU2hHpZi6kcc5PfcOKUi5ITSElOPpFPhGOiUmQ2NLeco7WDkqRq_zA-D79G1KqsZgYo_7i1-9Z7patOdg26BZNgNysDtgpbnws7Kf6C88PRGZ-bUmI/s640/IMG_5272.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />You get the idea. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYQ2sDWqO46iVc1In7LGtEY50800rC4k8w46OKWaqNr_dLke3F0auUIu-bjtYyvLQFZnfdRDxKqojxPEOjn9ADfrii3r95cGij7Od6ah47AbR_KMk7kSk-xzmz_aQEd7JuE1QfX_uGcOw/s1600/IMG_5279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYQ2sDWqO46iVc1In7LGtEY50800rC4k8w46OKWaqNr_dLke3F0auUIu-bjtYyvLQFZnfdRDxKqojxPEOjn9ADfrii3r95cGij7Od6ah47AbR_KMk7kSk-xzmz_aQEd7JuE1QfX_uGcOw/s640/IMG_5279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Ready for its flip!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzUxhDtd1o_dXm9vxmibdCCZqTv5zVhJuWvvz7QpyUv6iNc19H28B6LRho-d1kJESK7ud1zJiJMCeo9rMq0U6eCNlBoYAPRIJyMXOEi6etXQI_44ZvZ2erASZwXIjlF2b9KiFPnpOi9OJ/s1600/Back-to-School-Recipes-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzUxhDtd1o_dXm9vxmibdCCZqTv5zVhJuWvvz7QpyUv6iNc19H28B6LRho-d1kJESK7ud1zJiJMCeo9rMq0U6eCNlBoYAPRIJyMXOEi6etXQI_44ZvZ2erASZwXIjlF2b9KiFPnpOi9OJ/s640/Back-to-School-Recipes-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is Back to School Season!  I've put together a <a href="http://www.jennysteffens.com/backtoschool.html">Back to School Guide</a> that will make the beginning of the school year more fun (and manageable!).  These make ahead dinners, easy breakfast recipes and simple desserts will get an A+ from your kids... and will pass the parent taste test, too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.jennysteffens.com/backtoschool.html">Click here to go directly to my Back to School Guide!</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000036851708&pubid=21000000000393866"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Join me in giving back this Back-to-School season! </span></i></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000036851685&pubid=21000000000393866" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="15% Off Everything Now At DiscountSchoolSupply.com" border="0" src="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_impression?lid=41000000036851685&pubid=21000000000393866" /></a><br />Back-to-School season was such a fun time for me - especially <a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000036851708&pubid=21000000000393866"> Back-to-School shopping</a>.  I loved getting new binders, crazy pencils and pens, notebooks and of course, the all important backpack.  New creative gear was so inspiring to me - wait, it still is! It must be so hard for families going through tough times to get their kids excited about Back-to-School.   <br /><br />Join me in <a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000036851708&pubid=21000000000393866">giving back this Back-to-School</a> season!  Click on the link to the left, order some school supplies for your own kids (or your new organized office space/craft room...), then with the <a href="http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000036851708&pubid=21000000000393866">15% off</a>, you can afford to spend a little extra to donate to someone less fortunate.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">  </div><br /><br />

Sticky Popcorn Cake with M&M's | Back to School

It is Back to School Season!  I've put together a Back to School Guide that will make the beginning of the school year more fun (and ...

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