Popcorn...the perfect Halloween treat!

When I was little, a "grandma lady" that lived on our road always made popcorn balls for all of the trick or treating kids that came to her door. I wish I could remember her name, most of the time we just called her the "grandma lady." I could not wait to get to her door and receive this wonderful treat.

Popcorn balls were not something my mom ever made. It was a treat reserved for Halloween, either from a kind old lady or a treat at a party at school. They were something that I always enjoyed, but never attempted to make until this year.

Now that I have made them, I have to wonder why I avoided making them. Popcorn balls are super easy and take very few ingredients. I tried several different recipes and found that the good old "Betty Crocker" recipe worked the easiest and had three different options for flavors.

Another great treat using popcorn are popcorn bars, much like the ever popular Rice Krispy Treats, only using popcorn. My favorite of the two that I tried are the cranberry orange popcorn bars. So easy and one of my favorite flavor combinations!

Like caramel corn? Caramel popcorn bars are another quick and easy popcorn treat in a bar form. These are a bit different from the usual caramel corn, the addition of rice cereal and peanuts give these bars a fun twist. When we made them, we used chocolate flavored rice cereal. The results were yummy!

Looking for something savory? Chili popcorn is a fun change from the ordinary. Great for those that want a bit of a kick to their popcorn. Add a bit of hot pepper sauce to the mix for a real kick! Another variation of that flavor is nacho popcorn, it has a bit of cheese added to the mix for a bit different flavor.

There are so many wonderful flavors you can add to popcorn to make it zesty, sweet or whatever your craving calls for. These are just a few ideas. I also found a recipe for a popcorn treat called Lemon Cloud Popcorn, this is one I didn't try, but it sounded good. It should be easily adapted to orange or lime flavors as well.

Try some of these ideas for your Halloween party, or just as a treat for your family on a family game night or movie night! Popcorn is a very inexpensive snack and most of the ideas that I have mentioned are economical to make. Fun treats do not have to be a lot of work or money to prepare. Just a little time, a few ingredients that you most likely have in your pantry, and a few hungry people and you have the makings of a fun time!