Monster Munch Food

MONSTER MUNCH

Steps:

• Mix cereal, popcorn, pumpkin seeds, and peanuts together in a 4-quart microwaveable bowl.
• Microwave butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla extract together in another microwave-safe bowl, uncovered, on high power until boiling, about 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Stir in pumpkin pie spice. Pour over cereal mixture and stir until evenly coated.
• Microwave cereal mixture, 5 to 6 minutes, stirring and scraping down the bowl every minute.
• Spread on waxed paper to cool, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to break up. Stir in candy corn.

CARAMEL APPLE MONSTER MUNCH

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottom pot over medium heat until very hot and shimmering. Add the popcorn and immediately cover with a lid. Shake the pot constantly, holding the lid on with a heatproof holder, until the popping starts, about 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to shake the pot until the popping slows to just a few per 5 seconds, 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat and let stand for another minute to allow any last kernels to pop.
• Spray a very large bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Put the popcorn in the bowl and remove any unpopped kernels. Add the peanuts. Spray a rubber heatproof spatula with the cooking spray and place next to the bowl.
• Combine the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt in a medium saucepan and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until melted and the edges of the mixture begin to bubble. Clip a candy thermometer to the pan so the bottom of the thermometer is resting in the sugar syrup but not touching the bottom of the pan. Boil, stirring, until the thermometer registers 300 degrees F (the hard-crack stage), about 8 minutes.
• Turn off the burner and add the vanilla. Stir briefly--about 5 seconds--being careful not to burn yourself as the mixture bubbles up.
• Immediately pour the caramel evenly over the popcorn and quickly stir with the prepared rubber spatula until the pieces are mostly separated, about 3 minutes. Pull apart any larger clumps, being careful because the caramel will still be hot in spots. Stir in the apple chips.

HALLOWEEN MONSTER MUNCH BROWNIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Prepare brownie mix as directed on packaging and spray a 13 x 9 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Pour brownie batter into pan and spread evenly. Bake for 25 minutes and remove the pan from the oven.
• Top the brownies with mini marshmallows, peanuts, caramels and candies.
• Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
• Cool brownies completely before cutting into 2 inch squares.