Poppin’ Red Hot Valentines

Edited (again) to Add: The winner of the "extended" giveaway drawing is "Libazeth" - comment #6. Hey, Liz! How about if I hand deliver to you too? See ya' at church ;0)

Thanks for playing everybody! Remember, you need not be a personal friend or fellow church member to win my giveaways... You just need to comment (and be picked by Random.org when the time comes...)

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NOTE: This Giveaway is being extended to award a SECOND WINNER! Hurry! The new deadline is Tuesday, February 15 at 11:59 p.m.

Our FIRST WINNER is "Beach". And her prize will be hand delivered today! Read below and leave me your comments to enter - note there are several entries possible! Happy Valentine's Day!

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Yes, I suppose there is more to life than chocolate, but as one of my T-shirts says, “not much”.

I was so excited to finally find and try a recipe for one of my favorite indulgences. Cinnamon popcorn.

There’s a place in Kansas City that makes the best, but that’s a long drive from Texas.

I’ve literally built babies with this stuff… It was a number one craving and I ate gallons of it when I was expecting.

I found a pretty good  recipe for cinnamon  popcorn  – I picked it because it not only has the Red Hots, which I thought made it sound easy, but also cinnamon oil. Please don’t ask me where I bought the cinnamon oil. I can’t remember right now, but it may have been in a William Sonoma store. My mom buys hers from the pharmacy - it's strong stuff...

This was a very easy recipe – and though it doesn’t come close to Topsy’s in KC it’s a  good substitute and I’ll make it again. Maybe even today…

I bought some plain  treat bags and each has probably about two cups of cinnamon corn. You could use a printed treat bag, but I think the popcorn is so pretty it should stand alone.

Cut up some grosgrain ribbon and Valentine scrapbook paper (made by K&Co.) and put quick tags on each bag. I buy my ribbon at a floral supply store – it’s less than $2 for 25 yards. You won’t find a price like that at your big box craft store…

Now, I promised you a giveaway for stopping by today.

After you finish your yummy cinnamon corn your hands will probably be sticky. I have something else that’s sweet that will remove all traces of the cinnamon goodness from your hands, leaving them softer and smoother than when you leave your favorite pro manicurist. You might even get carried away and sugar scrub your elbows and feet as well. I LOVE this stuff and buy it in the giant tub size, but it's a "seasonal item".

I’ll send a 3 ounce tub of Sun Valley, Mandarin Orange Cranberry Twist scented, Exfoliating Sugar Scrub (from Melaleuca.com) to one blessed commenter. If you’re in the frozen north (or pretty much anywhere in the US today) it will remind you of spring with the mouth-watering scent, (but don’t eat it…stick to your popcorn.)

Enter my little comment contest before 11:59 pm Sunday, February 13. (We're extending this giveaway to get one more winner! The NEW deadline is 11:59 pm, Tuesday February 15!) I’ll use www.random.org to pick a winner based on your comment numbers.

One entry for a comment left on this post – tell me about your favorite popcorn.

Another entry if you become a follower through Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs through Facebook. (Leave a separate comment and let me know. If you’re already a follower let me know that too.)

A third entry if you share this on Facebook or Twitter. (Again – leave me a comment and let me know you did for the additional entry.)

I’ll notify the winner by email and then they have 48 hours to respond or we’ll pick another winner.

Now here’s that recipe for Red Hot Cinnamon Popcorn – there’s still plenty of time to whip some up for your Valentine. You’ll get about 10 two-cup bags per batch.

• 2 sticks butter
• 1 (9 1/2 oz.) pkg. red hots (I weighed mine and it’s just about the same as a dry measure would be or just about 1 1/4 cups.)
• 1/2 C white Karo syrup
• 3/4 tsp. cinnamon oil (there were 2 batches in my tiny bottle)
• 14 - 16 C popped popcorn (I use air popped)

Mix butter, red hots and syrup together in heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 to 7 minutes until mixture is clear. Remove from heat and add cinnamon oil. (Keep your face away from the fumes as you stir the oil in... this here is POTENT stuff!) Stir thoroughly and pour over popcorn. Stir well to evenly coat all the corn and put in 225 degree oven for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes.

Sara’s “hot” tips: Use metal measuring spoons for the cinnamon oil - it MELTED my plastic ones... Coat your pans, bowl and mixing spoon with cooking spray – it will make clean-up easier (for your teenager).

I’m joining the link parties at