Panther Popcorn Pops

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It is Super Bowl week, and that is pretty much all anyone is talking about! Especially if you live in North Carolina, like I do! So these Panther Popcorn Pops are doing double duty. I get to show my love for the Panther's and decorate my party table! And what's even better is that they are so much fun to make! Start with a simple popcorn ball, add a few drizzles of my new favorite colors, and you have a fun, festive centerpiece for your party! Go Panthers!

Panther Popcorn Pops

Chocolate Heart Lollipops!

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It's almost Valentine's Day, and I thought I would show you one of the little last minute gifts I made. I think it incorporates all of the Valentine's Day necessities~heart shaped, chocolate, sweet, and cute!

 Chocolate Valentine Lollipops

Good Quality Chocolate

Lollipop Sticks(1 for each sucker)

White Almond Bark

Heart Shaped Lollipop Mold

This is the lollipop mold I used.

I think I bought it at Michael's for about $2.

Melt your chocolate in a double boiler, and then

spoon it into the mold. It is not necessary to spray

your mold before putting the chocolate in.

 They will come out easily. After you have filled the 

heart, give the entire mold a tiny shake. Not a lot. Just

a little, and the chocolate will become smooth.

 Set the mold in the freezer for a few minutes.

 It will become solid  quickly.

Pop the chocolate lollipop out of the mold.

 Melt the almond bark according to directions.

Color a little of the white with pink color, 

and a little of it with red. Place the pink color in a pasty bag, 

and using a #2 tip, place a design on your chocolate lollipop.

Once the pink is dry, place the red in the same bag,

and pipe your design. Let dry.

Your lollipop is done!

There you have it!

Super simple and so sweet!

Thanks for joining The Freshman Cook today!

Valentine Heart Lollipops!

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I have made lollipops in the past, but it has been a while. I had forgotten how easy, quick, and cute they are to make. I added these to the Valentines goodies I sent my son and his roommates.

Lollipops

(recipe from LorAnn Oils)

2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup 

3/4 cup water
1 dram (1tsp.) LorAnn Raspberry Flavoring

Neon Liquid Food Coloring

Heart Shaped Lollipop Mold

In a large saucepan, mix together sugar, corn syrup and water.

Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves.

Spray your mold with pan spray.

Place candy thermometer in pan.

Bring to a boil without stirring.

Make sure to have a dish of water and a pastry type

brush  ready.

Cover a baking sheet with foil, and the spray with

pan spray. You may need this if you have left over

syrup after filling your molds. 

Cook, without stirring, until the temperature reaches 260º F.

The syrup will start to spray sides of the pan above the

mix. If that happens, carefully use the pastry brush

dipped in water to eliminate the syrup by brushing the side of

the pan back and forth until it drops into the mix.

Add drops of coloring, but still do not stir.

The boiling will incorporate the color into the syrup. 

Continue boiling until the syrup reaches 300 degrees.

Remove from heat and wait for boiling to stop.

Add flavor and stir.

Pour syrup into molds. 

A couple of the molds overflowed a little.

I waited for them to set up just slightly, then I took 

a paring knife and cut the excess while it was warm,

but not hot enough to scald.

I had some excess. so I poured it onto the pan we prepared

earlier and added these candy hearts.

I will crack it later.

Not a very good pic, but here are the five lollipops.

I tried to add a conversation heart to one of them,

but it didn't turn out how I wanted it to.

Here are the finished lollipops.I wrapped them in 

Valentine cello bags and tied them with ribbon!

Happy Valentine's Day!