The Daily Spectrum from Saint George, Utah • 11

03 Excellent award for Cedar City economic development See page B3 rami Daily Spectrum, Tuesday, September 23, 1990 Mary Ann I i Imeirnca's popcorn explosion! Page i i 4 With lightly buttered hands, form into pumpkin shape measuring about 8 inches in diameter at the bottom and about 4li inches high at the center. Make 7 or 8 slight indentations from center to bottom to form a pumpkin "stem." Arrange with a cornucopia of fresh red and green apples, grapes and nuts. (Recipe from: Orville Redenba-cher's Gourmet Popping Corn) Simple snack recipes BUFFALO-STYLE HOT POPCORN SNACKS 2Vi quarts popped popcorn 2 cups corn chips, slightly broken 1 cup dry-roasted peanuts V4 cup butter 2 tablespoons Louisiana-style hot sauce 1 teaspoon celery seed V4 teaspoon salt (optional) In a small bowl, place 2 cups popped corn; set aside. Combine remaining popcorn with corn chips and peanuts. In a small saucepan, melt butter with hot sauce, celery seed and salt; pour over popcorn-peanut mixture, tossing gently to coat.

Spread on a 15- Toy 10-inch baking sheet. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove from baking sheet to a large serving bowl. Toss with remaining 2 cups popped corn. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container.

Makes 2 quarts. (Recipe from: Orville Redenba-cher's Gourmet Popping Corn) BACON CHEDDAR CRISPS 2 quarts popped popcorn 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup cooked and chopped bacon V4 cup chopped green onions Evenly divide not popped corn and place in a single layer on two non-stick jellyrofl pans. Evenly divide and sprinkle cheese and bacon on both sheets; spread to single layers. Bake in a 400-degree oven for 8-10 minutes or to desired crispness. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with green onions.

Using spatula, remove from pan; let cool 5 minutes. Break into 2- by 2-inch chips. Makes about 25 chips per pan. (Recipe from: Orville Redenba-cher's Gourmet Popping Corn) snack, the Harvest Pumpkin Ball doubles as a centerpiece. This delicious treat served with steaming cider will disappear quickly after a football game on any autumn day it's a definite winning perfect edible centerpiece and the kids can help make it.

HARVEST PUMPKIN BALL Vt cup water 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice Vi teaspoon salt 1 pound vanilla caramels (about 64) 4 quarts popped pop corn Shoestring licorice Green gumdrops Combine water, pumpkin pie spice and salt in the top of double boiler; mix well. Add caramels; melt over hot water, stirring often, until smooth. Pour mixture over popped corn in large bowl; toss until kernels are well coated. will be hot.) Press mixture into greased 13x9-inch pan. Cool; cut into 18 squares.

COCONUT POPCORN 2 quarts freshly popped popcorn 1 cup packaged flakecf moist coconut Two-thirds cup toasted coconut cup sugar cup light corn syrup 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon vanilla Into large buttered saucepan, turn popcorn, moist coconut and toasted coconut. In medium saucepan, over medium heat, stirring constantly, cook sugar, corn syrup and lemon juice until sugar dissolves and mixture almost boils about 10 minutes. Off heat, stir in Paga Pointers Self-esteem key factor in life, love A simple definition of self-esteem is "the courage to be imperfect." Self-esteem is a key factor in learning, loving and maturing. It is a sign of mental health. Lack of self-esteem is a danger signal.

Jay Schvaneveldt, Department Head and Professor of Family and Human Development at Utah State University, said children without self-esteem often turn their attention to mischief. A common trait among school dropouts is their lack of self-esteem. This attitude is so thoroughly rooted in these young people's thinking that it is difficult for them to even make an attempt to succeed. If children truly believe you're for them, even if you're against any specific action of theirs, and they are sure of your unqualified love, they will be more likely to cooperate with you. The home that promotes self-esteem does so a little bit each day.

Tom Lee, Extension Specialist in USA College of Family Life, siad giving praise is important to build self-seteem. Effective praise is based on a few significant principles. Lee suggests these guidelines for giving effective praise: Focus on behavior. Praise is much more effective when it fo- cuses on behavior rather than per-' sonality. "That was a big job, thanks for your help," develops a sense of cooperation.

This motivates children from within, rather than being the kind of external approval that goes with saying "you were good." Focused praise helps children know they have worth all the time, not just when i they do well. Be specific. Praise that fo-', cuses on exactly what you appre-, ciated is more believable than "You always do so well." If praise is too general, and given hapha-' zardly, it may seem insincere to children. They may question the value of praise from a parent who always praises this way. Schvanevedlt says parents should also beware of double stan-i dards of behavior that children may pick up on.

For, example, many of us are pleasant on the telephone until we hang up the i receiver. We then immediatley be-l come critical of the caller. This is double-talk that our children hear. Elain Ashcroft, also an Extension Specialist in the College of Family Life, said touching is a simple way to convey affection and Duild self-esteem. As children get older we seem to discourage touching, but the need is still there.

Many children learn to be dishonest in order to get the touching they desire. They may say they are afraid or ill because then it is all right to be held until the fear passes, or until the child feels better. Children who do not recieve the positive types of touching may resort to bad behavior. That behavior may bring spanking, but any type of touching is preferable to none. Science will never replace the need to be touched, to be close to another human being.

This need begins at birth and continues until death. The self image is the key to human behaivor. The child who is equipped with self-esteem has greater control of his world because ie can say to himself, "I am me and I am okay." Ever since Colonists first sprinkled sugar and cream over a bowl of popped corn, the puffy snack has been a staple of American eating. But today we're a long way from that simple treat or even the occasional box of hot buttered popcorn at the movies. We're in the midst of a popcorn explosion, experts say, fueled by the microwave oven and the VCR.

Last year, for example, the average American (including children) consumed 56 quarts of popcorn, most of it made in the microwave. Sales now exceed $2 billion a year, according to the Snack Food Association, a trade group. Sales of microwave popcorn varieties tripled last year, with this year's figures pushing $300 million. The most recent segment of the market to increase in sales is the new light versions of microwave popcorn fewer calories, less fat and no cholesterol. Why the boom? Experts say it has to do with fast-lane lifestyles.

These days, to make popcorn you don't have to get out apan or oil or even an air popper. There's not even any serving bowl to wash if the treat is eaten out of the bag. Now there are microwave ovens in 75 percent of American homes another major reason for the increase, because half of all popcorn is prepared in the microwave. It's easy for kids, too. Parents feel more comfortable with them using it instead of a conventional stove.

Microwave popcorn has become such a staple that it can be conveniently picked up at VCR rental stores. In the early days of microwave popcorn (about seven years ago), manufacturers were stymied as to how to ensure success in ovens with power ranges from 450 to 1,000 watts until the breakthrough of susceptors. Susceptors are now sandwiched in the bottom of many popcorn bags but are not noticeable to consumers. An aluminum powder surface gets hot because it absorbs energy, then converts to heat as if it were a griddle. A 600-watt or more oven is said to be the best for popping corn.

Because popcorn is a high-fiber, whole-grain food, it is one of the few snacks to earn the OK of diet authorities if it's air-popped without oil, served sans melted butter and not flavored with salt. With nothing added, 3 cups of air-popped corn has 90 calories. If you've forgotten how to make popcorn the "old-fashioned" way (which, of course, is much cheaper than the microwave variety), here are the basics: Pour Va cup vegetable oil into a 5- to 6-quart pan. Add cup popcorn kernels and place on medium-high heat. While kernels pop, shake pan very frequently until popping almost ceases.

Remove from heat. Yields about 3 quarts which somebody says is about six to eight servings. Well, maybe for some people By the way, there will always be some kernels that don't pop in standard stove-top, air-pop or microwave popping. Industry experts call these unpopped kernels "spinsters." But if plain popcorn isn't enough, here are some recipes to embellish what is already a good thing. CANDY-COATED POPCORN 3 quarts popcorn, unsalted cup margarine 1 (7-ounce) jar marshmallow creme Vt teaspoon vanilla Vi teaspoon salt Yields 2Vz quarts.

Place popped corn in greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Melt margarine in saucepan over low heat. stripe or check. Choose patterns that are alike in design and color but decidedly different in scale; for example, a large windowpane check and a small stripe or paisley. A common color denominator is always essential to make patterns "go together" successfully.

I'd suggest as I often do that you work with fabrics, wall coverings, rugs and accessories that have already been coordinated on the designer's drawing board. if you decide to brave your own mix, bring home large swatches, spread them out on sofa or floor, and eyeball everything from a distance till you can decide if the conglomeration is pleasing or off-putting. Q. What is the name of that heavy, ropelike fringe that's showing up on traditional chairs and solas? Usually it runs around the 'v. "4 ft I rA If Add marshmallow creme, stir until well-blended.

Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and salt. Pour mixture over popped corn; toss until well-coated. Bake 30 minutes at 250 stirring every 15 minutes. Pour onto waxed paper; cool. Store in tightly covered container.

Variations: Chocolate-flavored popcorn: Add Vz cup semisweet chocolate pieces to melted margarine; stir until smooth. Continue as directed. Cinnamon-flavored popcorn: Add cup red cinnamon candies to melted margarine; stir until melted. Continue as directed. JAMES BEARD'S POPCORN Mix.

finely chopped fresh garlic, chili powder and salt to taste with buttered popcorn. (An easy way to mix hot popcorn with seasonings of any variety is to place popcorn in paper bag and toss seasonings on top; close and shake to mix.) TEX-MEX MIX 2 quarts popcorn popped in oil 2 teaspoons paprika 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 cup cubed Monterey Jack cheese (about 14-inch cubes) Yields 2 quarts. Keep popcorn warm. Mix seasonings together and toss with popcorn. Add cheese and mix gently.

Here's a similar microwave version with a south-of-the-border flavor. MEXICAN POPCORN In microwave-safe bowl, toss 1 teaspoon chili powder and V2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese with prepared popcorn from 1 (34-ounce) microwave pack. Microwave on HIGH (100 percent) 20 to 30 seconds. EASY POPCORN PEANUT SQUARES 2 quarts freshly popped popcorn 1 cup peanut butter 1 cup light corn syrup 1 cup sugar In saucepan, bring peanut butter, corn svrup and sugar to a boil for a few minutes: mix well. Remove smooth mixture from heat, add popcorn and toss well to coat thoroughly.

(Use spoons, mixture bottom in place of a skirt, and sometimes there a tassel on tne arms, too. V.H. A. You're describing bullion, so-called because this type of fringe was once made of metallic gold or silver threads. (Bullion, of course, refers to ingots of gold or silver.) Hugely popular during the last century when every inch was trimmed, tasseled or gilded, bullion is indeed making a comeback in lieu of skirts on reproductions of Victorian and Edwardian seating pieces.

Q. I'm doing over our house in the country and don't know exactly what to do with the walls, which are plaster over stone and very uneven. I want a rustic look the house is in the mountains but I would like a change from white plaster and I don't want barnboard. Any vanilla; cool for 2 minutes; pour over popcorn and coconut mixture. With long wooden spoon, mix well.

Return to medium heat and stirring constantly, heat until corn begins to stick together. Press out onto a 15xll-inch sheet of waxed paper. Cool completely. If necessary to dry more, let stand, uncovered, for 8 to 12 hours. Cut in large squares and wrap each in plastic wrap.

You may never be able to go back to that orange-colored commercial cheese popcorn after you've tried this homemade version. This recipe is from Sunset For a milder version, leave out the jalapeno chili. NACHO POPCORN In 8- to 10-inch frying pan over medium heat, melt cup butter or margarine; add 1 fresh or canned jalapeno chile, stemmed, seeded and minced; 2 teaspoons chili powder and Vz teaspoon ground cumin. Cook, stirring, until jalapeno chile is soft, about 5 minutes. Pour over 3 quarts freshly popped popcorn in a 12xl6-inch roasting pan and mix well.

Sprinkle popcorn with 2 cups (about 8 ounces) finely shredded Cheddar cheese, Vi cup sliced or chopped well-drained canned ripe olives, and salt to. taste. Bake in a 300 oven, stirring every 5' minutes, until cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Pour into a shallow bowl and serve hot. Planning a Halloween party for the kids and their ghostly friends? A Harvest Pumpkin Ball is the suggestions? R.C.

A. The trick is to disguise your rough-and-rugged walls without diluting your rustic atmosphere. Three ideas to consider: Wall "paper" first with cheesecloth or coarse burlap, then paint. Not only will the walls smooth visually, but the fabric will give a wonderfully rugged texture. Use ordinary brown wrapping paper as wall covering.

The late and great designer Angelo Dong-hia made it a signature in some of the mega-chic city apartments he decorated, but brown paper works with the country look, too. You may need to hne the walls first with a special paper that covers the moguls; apply the wrapping paper with wallpaper paste, then glaze, spatter- or sponge-paint it to enrich the surface (and hide any leak-through from the paste). Spatter- or sponge-paint the This puffy snack has come a long way since the Indians introduced it to the colonists, with sales now exceeding $2 billion a year. Because it's a high-fiber, whole-grain food, it is one of the few snacks approved by diet authorities. (Copley News Service) Decorating rules are meant to be broken by the masters vellow we love snarkle anrf shine (mirrors, crystal, silver), sharp contrasts (emerald green walls with ice-white woodwork, for example), and we generally avoid fabrics and wall coverings with fussy floral patterns.

More to our taste: Geometric prints, such as windowpane checks, stripes and polka dots for less formal rooms. Woven-in patterns moires and damasks for more formal Prints that are bold and stylized rather than realistic, such as paisleys, which can be both formal and less so. Rose Bennett Gilbert is the author of five books on interior design, associate editor of Country Decorating and a contributing writer to other publications in the field. nlaster itself lisim several chaHoc of the same color to create a subtle texture and depth. Q.

I really feel out of step. All I see are flowers in the magazines, in my friends' houses. Fm just not a "chintz person," but I would like some kind of pattern. What about geometric prints? Would a room full of them be too much? L.S. A.

You're not out of step. There are legions of decorators who have begun to flinch at so much chintz. In fact, you may belong to a worldwide group of people who simply prefer geometries and stylized prints to flowers. I'm one mvself. According to the seasonal color theory which holds that everyone falls into one of four loose categories, determined by the shade of our skins we are all "winters." We winters need cool colors with a blue tint, never by Rose Bennett Gilbert Copley News service Q.

The decorating magazines are snowing so many different prints and patterns all mixed together in the same room. I have to admit that I'm confused. Maybe I'm too old-fashioned, but I like things that go together. Are there any rules on how to use prints that don't match? B.B. A.

Yes. And like all rules, they are meant to be broken once you have mastered them, one reason professional decorators can be so cavalier about mixing patterns and colors with what looks like gay abandon. Let one pattern dominate so the eye has a focal point. Choose patterns that are different in design but alike in color, say, a large floral and a plaid,.