Eating popcorn and a brownie during a concert intermission last week, I remember commenting to my friend about how much fun it was to eat fresh popped popcorn. That's when I remembered a cookie recipe one of my neighbors shared with me just a few months ago. A woman sitting at our table smiled while my friend and I spoke. With a smile, our new friend asked for the recipe I had spoken about, popcorn cookies.
When I first heard the name, "popcorn cookies," it sounded like a recipe for fun. Listening carefully for the specific list of ingredients, I made a mental note to self, "This is important."
The four ingredients are: Cap'n Crunch's Peanut Butter Crunch, Kellogg's Rice Krispies, Planters' Unsalted Dry Roasted Peanuts and Almond Bark.
"Just melt the almond bark in the microwave. Then remove from the microwave and stir in the other ingredients. Afterwards, drop the cookie mixture onto waxed paper to cool," she said confidently with a smile.
I remember thinking, "That's it?" Only four ingredients were needed to make a crunchy sweet and salty snack to whet our appetites before dinner. After eating a few samples of the popcorn cookies, I had complete confidence I had heard one of the best cookie secrets ever shared.
Determined to stir up a batch of popcorn cookies for the holidays, I went to the grocery store with my recipe in hand as well as my digital camera. Just thinking about the ingredients triggered multiple recipe variations using the popcorn cookie concept.
The first batch of popcorn cookies I make will be for those who like to eat peanut butter and the second batch can be altered for those who are not able to eat peanut butter. Of course, there are other snack items that can be substituted for the peanut butter flavor. The possibilities are unlimited.
Author John Ortberg said, "If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat." Pour your ideas out onto a piece of paper just like you pour cereal into a bowl. You might be surprised when you realize unique ways to think outside of the boat and the cereal box.
