January (Latin word for door) is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and doorways.  It is the start to a fresh year and a time in which many people make resolutions to change.  Resolutions like eating healthier, starting to exercise or exercising more often, spending more time outdoors or spending more quality time with family and friends.

 

Interestingly, I discovered that January 19^th is Popcorn day!  Hooray!  Popcorn is one of my favourite foods.  

 

Here are some fun ways to get some exercise, be creative, spend some quality time with your friends and family, and therefore fulfill your New Year resolutions, all while enjoying some popcorn!

 

Basic popped corn

 

NOTE: Adult assistance required!

 

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups un-popped popcorn

¼ - ½ cup melted butter (optional)

Salt to taste

 

Directions;

1.       Heat oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium-high heat.

2.       Add popcorn and place the lid on the pan. Shake to coat kernels with oil.

3.       When the corn starts to pop, shake the pan gently and evenly until the popping stops.

4.       As soon as the popping stops, remove the pan from heat and pour popped corn into a large bowl.

5.       Optional:  Drizzle the melted butter and/or a sprinkling of salt over the corn and give it a good shake before serving.

 

Makes 12 servings

 

Popcorn relay race - Two great versions for a popular game

 

1.       Place two large empty bowls at one end of a room, garden or field.

2.       Divide the kids or family into two teams at the other end of the room and ensure each participant has a full cup of popcorn.

3.       A whistle is blown to start the game.  Each participant runs to their team’s bowl with a full cup of popcorn, empties it into the bowl and returns as fast as they can to their team.  The team that completes the relay race first, wins.

 

A second version of the same game….

1.       Each participant has two turns to run and empty their cup of popcorn into their teams bowl.

2.       This time, they have to be very careful not to spill any popcorn while they are running.

3.       After everybody has had two turns, look at the bowls and see which has more popcorn.

4.       The team with the bowl that is fuller wins because they spilled less popcorn.

 

Popcorn Maracas

 

Maracas are wonderful instruments, fun to make and event more fun to play.  Playing them is a great way to expend some energy, especially when you are cooped up inside during the cold winter months!

 

You will need:

A white paper plate

Crayons, paint or markers

A stapler

½ cup popcorn kernels

Music

 

What to do:

1.       Take a white paper plate and colour the back of it with crayons, paint or markers.

2.       Fold the plate in half, and staple it part of the way around (to create a half moon shape), leaving an opening to insert the popcorn kernels.

3.       Pour the popcorn kernels into the paper plate through the opening and staple until it is sealed.

 

Now put on some fun and energizing music and shake your maracas!

 

Popcorn Snowmen

 

I found this super recipe on http://www.candy.about.com and just had to try it out with my kids.  It was such a fun activity for all ages and a delicious one too!

NOTE:  Adult assistance required!

 

Ingredients:

7 cups popped popcorn

1 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup light corn syrup

1/3 cup hot water

Raisins, gumdrops, or other candy to decorate

Two pretzel sticks, to decorate

Ribbon, to decorate

 

Directions

1.       Place three strips of waxed paper on a table or kitchen counter, and spray them with nonstick cooking spray.  Place the popped popcorn in a large bowl and set aside.

2.       In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water over medium-high and heat. Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves, then insert a candy thermometer. Cook the candy until it reaches 240 degrees.

3.       Pour the sugar syrup over the popcorn in the bowl and stir gently until the popcorn is evenly coated.

4.       Spoon three mounds of popcorn onto the three strips of waxed paper. You want to make the mounds in three different sizes to represent the small head, medium torso, and large body of the snowman.

5.       Allow the popcorn to cool for 7-8 minutes. When it is cool enough to touch, but still warm, spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray, and form the mounds into balls, stacking them on top of one another in a snowman shape. Be sure to press the balls firmly so that they don’t fall apart.

6.       Press the raisins and any other candy into the snowman to form eyes, a nose, a mouth, and buttons.  Insert a pretzel stick into each side of the middle popcorn ball for the snowman’s arms.

 

This recipe makes one large snowman, or you can make multiple smaller snowmen.

 

Take some popcorn kernels and put them in a pot,
Add the oil and heat it, hear it start to pop, pop, pop.
When it is all puffy and white, then it is done,

Everyone knows popping corn is fun! 

Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy� - classes for kids that  offers them the opportunity to  experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art,  food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.  

 

(c) Shelley Sefton 2012

Tags: activities, children, creativity, families, family, Imagination Station, kids, maracas, New Year, popcorn activities, popcorn day, recipe, relay race, resolutions, Shelley Sefton, snowmen