We spent most of yesterday enjoying the first cool breezes of the fall season, and coming off the high of my father-in-law’s 75th birthday on Saturday night. All six grandparents were there, my two brothers-in-law flew into town, and the kids were all over the dance floor all night. With balloons. Cassidy sang and played guitar – 100% wonderfully in his element – for hours, and there was a pizza truck. It also had ice cream and espresso in case you didn’t think a traveling pizza truck with its own pizza oven wasn’t cool enough. So overwhelmingly awesome, that three-year-olds were said to fall asleep on dance floors.
If someone asks me my most favorite food, I have to separate it into categories. There is way too much good in this world to have to narrow it down to one. Favorite fruit? Apples. Ok, and strawberries, and raspberries but only when fresh-picked from the bush. Favorite vegetable? Broccoli. And sometimes broccoli with carrots. And excellently made salad. Favorite dessert? Easy. Ice cream. Ok, and cookies, but only specific ice cream and specific cookies. Favorite side dish? Mashed potatoes. Wow, I actually answered with only one. Favorite snack? Easier than all of these. POPCORN. Few things make me so happy..
I don’t like microwave popcorn..like at all.. and I’m very bad at making it on the stove. Very, very bad. We’ve gotten a couple of scalding burns on the bottom of the lobster pot that I still don’t like to care to admit to, but they have my name on them. When Cassidy goes away, I like nothing more than to sit on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a Hallmark movie.
We love fall activities of all kinds – pumpkin picking, hayrides, apple picking, jumping pillows, corn mazes, cow trains, orchards, game nights, Halloween, and so much more, but doing something that includes our dog might be the best of all.
I bought BOOMCHICKAPOP Lightly Sweet Popcorn, because I thought it would go best with what I had in mind for a sweet treat. I loved it enough as is from the bag, judging from the amount I snacked on while preparing my recipe.
I wanted to make a Cinnamon Maple Butter Popcorn out of BOOMCHICKAPOP. I poured it in a bowl and then heated two tablespoons of butter (I like a LOT) with a tablespoon of maple syrup. Once I whisked it together for a few minutes, I drizzled it over my popcorn. Then I put cinnamon – amounts varied for taste. I poured some on, put a plate over the bowl to shake the bowl well, and then taste-tested. It needed more! It is fall, after all. The results were perfect to take to the dog park.
This is how I plan to #BringTheBoom This fall. Visit the BOOMCHICKAPOP Facebook page and share your own #BringTheBoom moments. You can enter on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram for a chance to win a Halloween kit. It includes Halloween goodies, a $50 Target gift card and free Sea Salt or Sweet & Salty BOOMCHICKAPOP.
BOOMCHICKAPOP also has an awesome website HERE. Take it from me, as a popcorn lover, it’s really fun to eat. It’s certified gluten-free and uses non-GMO ingredients in all of the products and flavors.
You had me at butter and maple syrup! I definitely need to make this popcorn! Also, a Pizza truck with Ice cream and Espresso? SIGN ME UP!
Right? I had myself at butter. Or maple syrup. Put them together and it’s a REALLY good time.
The pizza truck was completely magical. It’s a huge operation and it’s so much fun for the kids (and adults) to watch the whole process.
Omg, this popcorn looked fabulous and we also had a fun-filled fall weekend, complete with apple picking here. I have already made homemade apple butter and making apple chips today, too!!
Scarlet’s wish is to go apple picking. We’ll be doing it very soon! Apple butter and apple chips? What time can I come over?
OMG, yes you could come over!! Anytime, you know I would welcome it <3
It would be an absolute DREAM! I will be in New Jersey this weekend, but that’s not close enough!
Oh man, so close, but so far away!
So so yummy looking! Love the photo of Des asleep! What a fabulous weekend you had!
It was really awesome. And of course Monday mornings are hard after weekends like that! Not too hard, though.
I really like popcorn! It’s the whole grain food that many people ignore because they don’t put it in the same category as whole wheat or brown rice etc. My concerns are GMO, but I don’t think that’s happening yet. I just eat it air-popped. It’s quite filling and low calorie that way. If you understand the calorie costs of how you want to eat it, then just make allowances for the pleasure.
GMO isn’t happening yet with popcorn? These products are non-GMO and when we buy stovetop we buy very local corn, but I definitely worry about it too!
I eat it with butter, though. Curious if that makes it better or worse! Certainly better tasting..
I loved seeing the photos of Dez on FB. What an awesome event! You guys know how to party over there. I love popcorn and have never heard of this brand. Looks SO good!
ha, we sure do party! It’s a Bowman trait, although the Klein-Jacobsons have it too. My kids are right there with it!
Well, now I’m going to have this song stuck in my head all day 🙂 OMG, that picture of Des sleeping… sooo sweet 🙂 Looks like you guys had a great weekend. And Buster would LOVE to go to a nice river like that. I’m not sure he really likes the water, but that’s because he’s only ever been squirted with a hose when we clean up his stinks outside. He has some outdoorsy spirit in him 🙂 XOXO
That song is definitely an ear-worm, isn’t it?
Tell Buster to come up and visit anytime. This dog park is the nuttiest, most majestic dog park I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting.
There is no better snack than popcorn! Actually I have been known to eat it for dinner even. That is how much I LOVE it! A 75th birthday, that is a big deal and what a great dog park. We lived close to one like that when we lived in Montana! No rivers here in my desert 🙁 But plenty of sunshine!
One thing I love.. is to eat a big breakfast and big lunch and sort of.. skip dinner. Like I’ll say that my big, late lunch was dinner, and then I’ll eat a bowl of popcorn.
Bliss!
Popcorn! I love it too. I got a HUGE bag of kettle corn from the State Fair.
That first picture is adorable.
Ooh! We have our big fair on Wednesday. I’m counting the minutes…
Thanks for the photo op, honey! I love your blogs.
Thank YOU! You helped me get Des home, and it made a pretty spectacular photo opp! Can’t wait to see you this weekend!! Lots more blogs coming.
I see this at the Grocery Outlet all the time and have been meaning to try it!!! – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Yeah, it’s really good! My friend told me she’s addicted to it and eats a bag a night! ha!
I love Boom Chicka Pop, but I have mastered the stovetop cooking. I didn’t quite realize the ease until I did it. I also have found different kernals cook differently. What I did with Orville Redenbacher did not work for Pop Secret (I still have to figure them out). But if I’m going to have to opt for a store bought, Boom Chick Pop is high on the list.
I can’t wait for the fall breezes to start flowing!
You’re so lucky you mastered it! Cassidy is amazing at it. I just love popcorn in any form so if he’s home, he makes it for me. And if I’m home.. I buy it! Pretty awesome.
Oooo I LOVE this popcorn!! Yum yum!
Me too! I’ve been reaching for it all day.
OMG, that looks amazing, Tamara. I love popcorn. I actually make it stove top since I don’t have a microwave. Haven’t had a microwave in 6 years and don’t even miss it. There’s certainly a science to popcorn on the stove. I think it’s all in the right pan. If I had that boomchika I would be 40 1bs heavier than I am now LOL.
We didn’t have a microwave in SF. I never missed it. Now that I have kids, I think I would miss it.. but you find many other ways. As you know!!
I am a very big fan of boom chicka pop popcorn, I’ve bought it many times from the drug store! Loved what you did with it–I’ve only JUST become a fan of sweet and savory popcorn! Late bloomer but happy I finally made it.
No, I’m totally with you!! I’m really a salty popcorn person. I like butter and salt and that’s it. For some reason, this little recipe appealed to me a lot, but usually it doesn’t.
What a wonderful 75th birthday party for your father-in-law, Tamara! We gave my maternal grandmother a 75th birthday party and many family members and dear friends came to our house to celebrate Nan’s birthday. For years I had promised her a rocking chair for her 75th birthday and I kept my promise. I let her pick the one she wanted and she rocked away at her party. That rocking chair is in my bedroom now. I’ll always cherish Nan’s rocking chair. Your cinnamon maple butter popcorn sounds so yummy. The perfect fall comfort food!
Aw, Nan’s rocking chair! That’s very special. I bet she had a wonderful 75th birthday. It used to seem like a much older age to me, but my father-in-law seems so young to me. And with my parents being ten years younger than he is, they all seem like spring chickens!
May we all be so youthful at 75.
My mom LOVES this popcorn, now I’ve got to try your recipe! Looks like a fab weekend!
One of my friends told me she can eat 3-4 bags of it a day! That’s love.
The weekend rocked but YOURS looked epic.
First off – the travelling pizza, ice cream, espresso truck sounds awesome… and the 75th birthday celebration sounds just about perfect!
I love popcorn as a treat too. I’ve never tried Boom Chicka Pop but that cheddar/caramel mixture has totally intrigued me. I make popcorn every night as a snack with a glass of wine and a small square of dark chocolate – it’s my special evening routine (usually consumed while watching a show with my sweetheart).
Thanks for sharing.
xoxo
That sounds completely special. Popcorn. Chocolate. Wine. And a show with your sweetheart! I love everything about it.
Popcorn is definitely one of my favorite snacks, and this sounds delicious! And broccoli is my favorite vegetable — I love it steamed.
Des so is stinkin’ adorable! Sounds like you all had a blast celebrating your father-in-law’s birthday.
Steamed broccoli with a little butter or even coconut butter.. the best. I could it that like candy, and I often do!
Yum! I am also a popcorn enthusiast and I love this!!!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
I love that you are too! Photography, popcorn, cookies – we have a lot in common!
Aw! What a great family celebration! I just love the love between and among your family…
I am also a “Popcorn enthusiast”, as you say… 🙂
I love any popcorn. This might be a good fit for me! lol
Welcome to the club! We need a Popcorn of the Month club or something. I bet that exists..
I love POPCORN too! I like the caramel-flavored popcorn! I’ve tried the microwaved popcorn too, cheese flavor!
I love cheese-flavored popcorn! Caramel corn is a bit of a thing around here. We get these big tins full of three flavors – butter, cheese, caramel! Usually around the holidays.
Oh my goodness I love the name! lol And yes, grandparents have that gift, don’t they? So glad you guys had a wonderful weekend!
Grandparents sure do have that gift!
I agree – BOOMCHICKAPOP is certainly memorable.
Never heard of this – putting it on my grocery list, because YUM! Hope you have a great week!
I really hope you enjoy it! It’s quite delicious. Not too crunchy and not too soft. YUM.
I don’t think I’ve ever had cinnamon maple butter popcorn – YUM! That looks so fall and delicious. Buying the popcorn makes this fairly simple. I’ve made a version of caramel corn before, but I’ve always air popped the corn first. Hmmm…. great idea!
It was my first time for cinnamon maple butter. And it was SO good. I used salted butter. I should have put that!
Caramel corn.. yum.
That picture of happy dogs in the river made my day 🙂
Well, that makes my day that it made your day! It was a glorious Sunday.
What a wonderful party! Pizza, ice cream, and espresso are perfect. (But, sadly, I couldn’t eat the pizza…) I love Boomchickapop–I’ll have to try it with the cinnamon maple butter.
That is sad about the pizza, but they also had salad! And it was really good salad. And hummus and vegetables and oh, it was so delightful.
Yum! I already like that popcorn brand but will need to try with the cinnamon maple syrup. I’m a popcorn lover too!
It’s really one of the most perfect foods. I am craving it pretty badly right now! All this talk about it.
Butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon sounds yummy!!! My son is a Cub Scout so we are currently selling popcorn for his yearly fundraiser. Last year my husband ordered a chocolate drizzle flavor that was really good.
Oh, that’s awesome! I don’t suppose they ship? If so, I’d be happy to order to support your son’s Cub Scout troop!
Hey Tamara, they do ship! It took me a few attempts, but I finally set up my son’s online popcorn sales account. If you see something that you like, here is the link http://trails-end.com/?scout=3ca0f97d5b1c628 Thanks for your support ☺
Yay! I hope that wasn’t too much trouble. I’ll be away until Saturday but I’ll place an order over the weekend if that’s ok? If not, I’ll be happy to do it while I’m away once I get to a computer.
Sounds like one awesome 75th birthday party! And, now, I want a bag of popcorn 🙂
Same! I’m trying to decide if I should eat ice cream, or have Cassidy make me popcorn. Decisions.. decisions..
Totally a stove-top-popcorn-making family here. Unless, I get TJ’s kettle corn (sweet, salty, spicy – soooo good). You version of butter and maple sounds great, I am a little hesitant on the cinnamon though.
The 75th birthday party sounds totally awesome. Don’t tell me you had an Espresso. I thought you don’t drink caffeine?!
Mm… I’ve had that!
The cinnamon had me unsure but I went sparingly with it. It was such a nice snack.
I totally didn’t have espresso, though! That would have made my heart beat too fast.
I adore that first picture, Tamara. What a sweet memory to look back on years from now.
Will def check out the popcorn for our movie nights. Thanks!
I was so glad I got that photo! My dad loves it too.
Popcorn + movie nights = awesome.
That recipe sounds delicious! I think I know what I’m making for the girls this weekend!
They’ll love it! And you can change it any which way you want.
You can order whenever you want to. I had been meaning to set it up for a while. It was a little confusing because they require an email address for both the scout and the parent. I used the same email address for both and I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t log in. But you have to use two different emails. Once I figured that out I was able set it up correctly. So it was just me misunderstanding the directions 🙂
Oh, I think I forgot to. I hope it’s not too late! I’ll look into it right now!
It’s not too late, but there isn’t a really good variety of items online. So, if you don’t see anything that you like, I understand.
I love BoomChickaPop, too. I just stay with the salt flavored because I don’t want any added sugar, even though I know the ingredients are non-GMO. I always love your images, clearly you love what you do and are a true professional.
I’m with you totally. In fact, I rarely add sugar OR salt to my popcorn at home!
Thanks about the photos!!
I will take my kids to a football game on a crisp Saturday afternoon. I will pack lunches for us for between soccer matches. I will schedule a day of no devices and plenty of snacks and just soak my girls in.
I would love to hear about that! Crisp weather hasn’t really hit here. I’m waiting.
wow – that sounds really delicious!! I am so trying this. And I think I might just popcorn machine as my Christmas present this year too. I’d really like to get away from the microwave kind too. Seriously, the best was always that Jiffy Pop stuff over the bonfire. 🙂