Dark Chocolate and Coconut Popcorn

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Real life real talk:

On Sunday's morning walk, a new pup crept up on Hunter and me. It was a lady pup...without a collar. She ran ahead and then back and also in circles around us for a mile and a half. Hunter was totally unimpressed.

This lady pup was friendly and mostly respectful and somehow made her way into my backyard. I don't even know. It just kind of...happened.

It took me a few minutes to remember that one more dog in this house would be bonkers. For humans and animals alike. She's living at the neighbor's house now. Sometimes it takes serious willpower not to throw treats over the fence.

On Monday, during The Bachelor, I saw a commercial for Titanic in 3D. I've never seen Titanic because I was in a serious, I won't do what every other eighth grader is doing because middle school is ridiculous phase when it was originally released. Today, my coworkers told me watching Titanic would be a lot like watching Dawson's Creek. I totally forget the logic behind it...but now I'm in. 3D glasses and all. Bring it, Leo.

On Tuesday, I determined that if I grade five research papers a day, I'll be done grading in under two weeks. Easier said than done.

I haven't graded a research paper today. Yet. But I have eaten popcorn obsessively and watched The Titanic trailer three times. So...there's that.


This popcorn is made the right way. With kernels and oil on the stovetop. None of this microwave business.

It takes maybe five minutes longer and creates exactly one extra dish to wash. Worth the sacrifice.

Normally, we make this popcorn with canola oil. This time, I used coconut. And! I poured the hot popcorn straight into a metal bowl with dark chocolate m&m's. The heat of the popcorn melts the inner chocolate of the m&m's and creates a snack that is equal parts sweet and salty and coconuty. I almost can't even deal.

I'm seriously tempted to find Titanic on the internet and sit with my popcorn for the next three hours. But I think that broken ships and water in an extra dimension are going to be worth the wait. Because I'm a crazy lady. Who maybe needs to grade research papers tonight anyway.

Dark Chocolate and Coconut Popcorn

1 cup dark chocolate m&m's
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
sea salt, to taste

Place dark chocolate m&m's in a large metal bowl and set aside. Melt coconut oil and place in a heavy bottomed pot with three kernels. Heat over medium high heat. When the kernels pop, add the remaining kernels and cover. Shake the pot gently to keep the kernels from burning, and when you can't hear them moving any more in the pan (meaning they have nearly all popped), pour the popcorn into the metal bowl. Season with sea salt and stir gently to incorporate.