Samoa Popcorn

In case you have been living under a rock or something (or just have a life, whichever) last night was the Season Finale of The Biggest Loser. Please tell me you watch that show. Usually reality TV bores me (I get tired of rolling my eyes at all the drama and bad acting) but for some reason I have this strange addiction to Biggest Loser. I think it's kind of amazing how someone can look like an entirely different person in just a few months, by losing 50, 75, 100+ pounds. In honor of the finale I decided to whip up some fresh-squeezed lemonade, and this Samoa Popcorn for us to snack on.

Recipe slightly adapted from: Cookies & Cups

(Let's not even talk about how wrong it is to eat JUNK like this during this show. Bob Harper would be so ashamed. I think I get some weird sadistic pleasure out of eating carbs and sugar whilst knowing all the contestants have been eating Jennie-O and spinach for weeks. How pathetic of me)
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Samoa Popcorn Recipe

2 bags microwave popcorn (light, kettle corn, or plain is fine)

2 C. light brown sugar

1/2 Cup light corn syrup

1 1/2 sticks butter, cubed

4 Tbsp water

1 Tsp baking soda

2 Tsp vanilla

2 cups sweetened coconut flakes

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 package Samoa Cookies (or the Keebler version "coconut dreams"- you can usually find these at Walmart, Target, etc.)

Pop your popcorn according to package directions, and remove all the un-popped kernels. Dump both bags into a big bowl. Chop your cookies into small pieces (cutting in half and then thirds works well) and set them aside.

Put your coconut in a cold skillet and heat it over medium low for about 10 minutes. Stir it constantly so you don't scorch it, and watch it very carefully! Line your counter with two long sheets of wax paper, overlapping (so you have a clean nonstick surface to put your popcorn on).

In a medium pot, whisk together the butter, brown sugar, water, and corn syrup and let it come to a boil. Preheat your oven to 200°. Once your caramel mixture is boiling, leave it alone for 5 minutes (don't stir it!) Then take it off the heat, and whisk in the baking soda and vanilla immediately.

Pour the caramel over the popcorn in the bowl and stir until very well combined. Then spoon the popcorn onto the waxed paper and sprinkle the toasted coconut on top. Divide the popcorn onto two cookie sheets and bake in the oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes or so.  Do not cook longer.  Popcorn should still be somewhat gooey.  This is what makes it yumm!

Pour the hot popcorn back onto the wax paper and immediately sprinkle with the cookie pieces. Put your chocolate chips in a ziploc sandwich bag and microwave at 50% power at 30-second intervals. Take the bag out and knead it with your hands between intervals. This is important- you don't want your chocolate to scorch. When it's fully melted, snip a hold in one corner of the bag and drizzle it across your popcorn.

Let it fully set (put popcorn in the freezer for a few minutes if you're impatient like me), and then place in an airtight container. Best if eaten within 24 hours, but will keep up to 4 days.

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Pretty perfect snack for watching a weight-loss show don't you think? Was anybody else laughing their tail off during the finale when they showed the clip of Hannah pretending to be Jillian?

Happy Munching!