Author: Popcorn.org via Family Features

White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn Bark 5 cups popped popcorn12 oz. white chocolate baking chips (chopped white chocolate or white candy coating)1 cup crushed hard candy peppermints Cover baking pan with foil or wax paper; set aside.Place popcorn in large bowl; set aside.In double boiler over barely simmering water, melt chocolate, stirring until smooth, or melt according to package directions. Stir in crushed peppermints.Pour chocolate mixture over popcorn mixture and stir to coat. Spread onto prepared pan; cool completely.When chocolate is cooled and set, break into chunks for serving.Store in airtight container at room temperature. Dessert, Snackchristmas cookies, gift, holiday, Peppermint,…

Chocolate Cherry Pecan Snack Mix Chocolate glazed pecans are tossed with dried tart cherries, yogurt covered raisins, and a few pretzels to add saltiness to this snack mix.  1 1/2 cup pecan halves1 large egg white1/4 cup light brown sugar1 1/2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder1/2 tsp. vanilla extract1 tsp. salt1 Tbsp. water1 cup dried tart cherries1 cup small pretzels3/4 cup yogurt covered raisins Whisk together egg white, brown sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt until well blended. Add about 1 tablespoon water to thin mixture slightly. Fold in pecan halves until well coated. Spread mixture onto parchment lined…

To celebrate Cooperative Month in October, Prairie Land held a poster contest for third graders across its 18-county service territory. Students used their creativity to draw posters of electrical safety at home or school. The top three winners were awarded a new bike and helmet. As an incentive for schools and teachers to allow their students to enter, participating classroom teachers received a donation from Prairie Land to use for classroom supplies. Classes with winning posters received an additional donation. Prairie Land received 438 posters from 30 participating classrooms. Thank you for supporting your electric cooperative and promoting electrical safety.…

On Oct. 25, there was a great deal of energy at Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives’ (OAEC) Second Annual Co-opreneur Day. Students from Alva Middle School and Cherokee Junior High School did an excellent job of representing Alfalfa Electric Cooperative at the event.OAEC in partnership with Oklahoma Council on Economic Education organized and presented Co-opreneur Day. This seventh- and eighth-grade student competition is designed to develop and explore business development, economic, leadership and entrepreneurship skills.This year’s students designed a cooperative business to solve a community need, developed a business plan and presented their ideas to a panel of judges. Many…

Irish Beef and Beer Stew 2 lbs. beef chuck roast (cut into 1-inch cubes)2 tsp. vegetable oil1 onion (diced)1/2 lb. button mushrooms (sliced)2 tsp. minced garlic1 12 oz. can dark beer1 parsnip (diced)1 turnip (diced)1 lb. red-skinned potatoes (diced)1 Tbsp. tomato paste1 tsp. kosher salt1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper2 tsp. dried thyme leaves3 cups beef stock Season beef chuck roast cubes with salt and black pepper to taste. Heat oil in a large stockpot over high heat. Sear cubes until brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove cubes from pan and set aside.Turn heat down to medium; add onions,…

Almond Chocolate Biscotti 1 package chocolate cake mix, not prepared (15.25 oz.)1 cup all-purpose flour½ cup unsalted butter (melted)2 large eggs¼ cup chocolate syrup1 tsp. vanilla extract½ cup slivered almonds½ cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips1 cup white baking chips1 Tbsp. vegetable shortening Preheat oven to 350 F.In a large bowl, beat the dry cake mix, flour, butter, eggs, chocolate syrup, and vanilla extract with electric mixer until well blended. Stir in almonds and chocolate chips.Divide the dough in half. On an ungreased baking sheet, shape each portion into a 12-by 2-inch log, leaving at least 4-5 inches between them.Bake for…

Slow Cooker Taco Soup 1 lb. 93% ground turkey2 Tbsp. olive oil1 large onion (diced)2 tsp. coarse kosher salt (divided)2 cups chicken broth1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes (15 oz. )1 can black beans (15 oz., drained and rinsed)1 can pinto beans (15 oz., drained and rinsed )1 can whole corn kernels (15 oz., drained and rinsed )2 Tbsp. chili powder1 tsp. ground cumin1 tsp. smoked paprika1/2 tsp. dried oregano2 Tbsp. lime juice (about the juice of 1 lime)1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)4 oz. cream cheese (optional) Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add…

The predicted strong El NiÑo for the winter may make severe cold outbreaks less likely in our neck of the woods but predictions are just that. A seven-day forecast can accurately predict the weather roughly 80% of the time while a long-range forecast accurately predicts the weather only 50% of the time. Bottom line: Be prepared no matter the forecast. Being prepared includes building a disaster kit or a “go bag” that goes beyond wiping out the store aisle of bread, milk and eggs. (How much French toast do we really need during a blizzard?) Experts recommend you prepare to…

After growing outdoors for half the year, my container plants have accumulated some inhabitants in the soil. Although the plants are healthy, bringing the plants directly inside to overwinter would undoubtedly introduce a host of insects into my home. To prevent this, I removed each plant from its container and soaked the root balls in a soapy water solution for 15 minutes. Then, I replanted them in clean containers using a new batch of sterile potting mix. … with a few simple steps, used potting mix can be put back to work by the next growing season. Now, what to…

Holiday Cheese Bell This festive cheese “bell,” made with grated sharp or smoky cheese along with cream cheese and butter, can be the centerpiece of a cheese board or stand alone, surrounded by crackers. I adapted the recipe from Amy Sedaris’ book, “I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence” (Grand Central Publishing; 2006), sometimes changing it from its original ball shape to other renditions, including a pumpkin. Seasonings can be adjusted (adding fresh herbs is a nice touch) and nut coatings can be customized to your liking. 2 cups shredded cheese (can be a combination of smoked gouda, smoked cheddar…