First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their advise and suggestions. I've been really busy this week so I haven't been able to respond yet. We are allowed to bring homemade treats to school we just have to be carefull as to what is in it. Our school has been pretty good at letting us parents know if there is any food allergy in the class and have even stopped doing class parties for the most part because of food allergies and religion issues. I love the bubbles idea and even thought about it but figured that it would be too messy and knowing 7 year olds, they would want to open them right away in the class room. So I decided to save the teacher some hassle and left the bubbles at the store. I ended up sending in string cheese and whole grain club crackers. We individually wrapped everything and sent the treats in little party bages with a gold medal to go with it (DS wanted to to do race cars as his show and tell so we sent in medals for all the kids). I sent the lables in also so that the teacher coiuld double check everything. The kids liked the little bags and DS was happy to be able to give his friends "presents" as he put it. And I was happy to have found a healthy snack to send in. So many parents send in junk food and I hate it. I try to feed my family healthy stuff as often as I can and junk food is an no no in my house due to DS and SS both having soft teeth. Well DH still manages to bring junk food (pop tarts!) in the house. Grrr! But DS rarely gets it. Thank's again you everyone I really appreceiate all your help. Pets

here's a few: Diane's Home Cookin Chapter: Snacks Bacon Cheese Popcorn ==================== 4 quarts Popped popcorn 1/3 cup Margarine; melted 1/2 teaspoon Seasoned salt 1/2 teaspoon Hickory-smoked salt 1/2 cup American cheese; grated 1/3 cup Bacon bits . Pour freshly popped corn in large bowl. Combine margarine with hickory-smoked salt. Pour over popcorn; toss well to coat. Sprinkle with cheese and bacon bits. Toss again ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Cheese And Garlic Popcorn Spice =============================== 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese; Graded 2 teaspoons Salt 1 teaspoon Tarragon 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder 1 teaspoon Parsley flakes . Mix ingredients together and store in tightly sealed container or shaker, Mix spice with 4 tabspoons of melted butter and pour over freshly popped popcorn, stir to coat. * I use bruised mixed Italian herbs instead of the tarragon +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Heavenly Hash Popcorn ===================== 1/4 cup butter 1 cup chocolate chips 1 cup pecans, toasted 6 cups popcorn, popped 4 cups miniature marshmallows . In a heavy saucepan, put the butter, chocolate and pecans. Cook over a moderate heat until melted, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Pour over the popped corn and marshmallows. Stir well. Spread on a buttered cookie sheet and refrigerate to cool. For variations, you may wish to substitute butterscocth morsels or use bitter chocolate. White chocolate pieces in place of chips make a pretty white candy which can be colored and molded into shaped cake pans. Yogurt candy coating can also be used for a more piquant flavor ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Moose Munch =========== softened butter 1-1/4 cups sliced almonds 4 quarts popped popcorn 1/2 cup butter 1-1/2 cups honey 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons vanilla . Grease a large bowl with either softened butter or margarine. In the bowl toss together the almonds and the popped popcorn. In a saucepan with high sides, melt the butter. Add honey and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring con- stantly and allow to boil for five minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla. Pour over popped popcorn and stir to coat. Place on large cookie sheet and bake in 300 degrees oven for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from oven, loosen from pan and cool. (Makes 4 quarts.) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Golden Popcorn Patties ====================== 2 cups Sugar 1/2 cup Syrup; light 1 cup Water; hot 1/4 teaspoon Salt . Boil to soft ball stage. Add 1 t. vanilla, 1 t. lemon juice. Pour over 5 qts of popcorn, heated with 1 c. peanuts or 1 c. Walnut meats. Cover wiht hot syrup. Mix and spread. The cut into squares.

Popcorn is a staple of my diet, along with chocolate and cheap red wine!!! I've tried many types of poppers, (never seen the one Ravencajun showed) and still come back to a heavy pan on top of the stove, about a teaspoon or two of oil, and more pop corn kernals than I should use. When it starts popping and seems about to blow off the pan lid, I quickly empty most of it into the first bowl I have waiting, return the pan to the stove and let it continue popping. I have it down to a fine art. The dog gets the popcorn that flies out of the pan, and I have a second batch of popped corn to seal up for another day. Only butter, salt and maybe garlic powder go on top. It's amazing to me how much popcorn costs at the movie compared to what it costs to make, although I have indulged when my movie membership card grants me a free bag.

Chloe, your bacon grease in cookies reminded me of my mess up. My husband was being a good boy so I decided to surprise him with his favorite lemon meringue pie which he likes with Graham cracker crust. Graham cracker crumbs came in a white pouch inside the box but I removed the pouch and tossed the box for some unknown reason. Anyway got the crust made with the melted butter and sugar with the help of my young at the time daughter. Made my lemon filling, got the pie ready and the meringue on top and put in oven to finish off the meringue. ..I noticed an odd scent when I removed the pie from oven...turned out my Graham cracker crumbs were in fact Shske n bake...the pie looked lovely but was not edible. Lol.