Pass the Trail-Mix Popcorn, Please {recipe}

It’s time for another segment of “Cooking with the Little Lady.”

(also known as “Mommy Should Reconsider Letting a Cranky 3 Year Old Help Cook“)

You know — I wish 3 year olds weren’t so darn unpredictable.  I mean, on one hand, I LOVE my daughter’s exuberance and ever-changing moods.  On the other hand, when I *want* her to do something and she starts being “very 3,” that’s not as much fun.

Today we made Trail-Mix Popcorn — an “after-school-snack” recipe easy enough for the Little Lady and I to make.

But, you see, I failed to consider that being 3 means that, one minute, the Little Lady is excited to “make a movie” . . . and then the next minute she wants to eat the popcorn like a puppy . . . and then she’s crumbling up the popcorn . . .  and then she’s throwing off her chef’s hat and screaming, “I don’t want to DO THIS ANYMORE!”

(at which point, I was MORE than happy to let her scamper off for a “Finding Bugs” adventure with The Grandmother . . . while I tried to gather what was left of my patience and sanity)

Here’s what little I was able to piece together for today’s cooking segment (carefully editing out the numerous fits, the face-dives into the popcorn, and overly silly faces).

The Little Lady Makes an After School Snack: Trail Mix Popcorn

Trail Mix Popcorn {recipe from Iron Chef Cat Cora}

• 2 9-oz bags of Microwave Popcorn (we used Kettle Corn), popped according to package directions
• 1 C Raisins
• 1/2 C dried Apricots, chopped
• 1/2 C dried Cranberries and/or Cherries (we used Cranberries)
• 1/2 C honey or Agave Nectar
• 2 Tbs. Butter
• 1/4 C finely chopped pecans, walnuts, and/or peanuts (we used walnuts)
• 1/4 C raw Sunflower Seeds
• 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon

Directions

1. Oil hands to keep popcorn from sticking.
2. In a large bowl combine popcorn with dried fruits and set aside.
3. In a medium saucepan over low heat, stir honey with butter, nuts, sunflower seeds, and cinnamon and mix until well combined.
4. Carefully drizzle mixture over popcorn and fruit, stirring constantly, until everything is well coated.  Let sit overnight.

Makes approx. 4 cups.

Serving size: 1/2 Cup — 291 calories; 3g Protein; 11g Fat; 50g Carbs; 4g Fiber, 27mg Calcium; 1mg Iron; 104mg Sodium.

*Disclosure: this post was originally published as part of a Back To School Meal program by HEB and ConAgra; I was compensated for my recipe creations and posts.