Talk about last minute! Here's a Valentine's Day treat- Chocolate Popcorn, Pretzels and Chips

Chocolate dipped pretzels and chocolate drizzled popcorn make a fast and easy treat for your Valentine, the kid's lunchbox or just because. It only takes a few minutes to melt the chocolate and you can have these made in no time flat. I can't believe that Valentine's Day is here! Right here! Right now! And I don't have a single treat or anything for my Valentine or my kids! I have been so busy that I haven't even gone to the grocery store! I certainly don't have time to go shopping now. What a relief, I do have popcorn, pretzels, a few potato chips and chocolate. Four of the Hoopes family's favorite food groups. I have a few minutes before everyone gets back to to the house, so let's see what I can do.

To melt and temper the chocolate, set up a double boiler. I set a large bowl over a pot of boiling water and it works just as well. Don't let the bowl actually touch the water or the chocolate will scorch. The chocolate should be a firm, coating chocolate or semi-sweet chips so the chocolate will harden on the pretzel, not milk chocolate. While the water is coming to a boil, chop the chocolate and divide into thirds. Place ⅔ of the chopped chocolate into the bowl. Melt the chocolate. Stir gently, the chocolate may hold its shape even if it has melted. When the chocolate is completely melted and very runny, remove the bowl from the heat and add the remaining ⅓ of chopped chocolate. Stir the mixture until the added chocolate is completely melted. This will help your chocolate have a nice, shiny look. Dip half a chip or pretzel in the chocolate and set on the waxed paper to cool. Dipping half the chip makes things go much faster and uses half as much chocolate so you can dip twice as many chips (is that pretzel logic?). Place the dipped chips or pretzels on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper (am I the only one who still uses waxed paper?). To keep the chocolate nice and neat, put one edge of the coated side of the pretzel down on the waxed paper and push it forward slightly as you set down the pretzel. You can also let them sit for a minute or two then, move them to a new spot.

Use the remaining chocolate to drizzle over the popcorn. Too bad I don't have white chocolate to drizzle on as well.
Hmmm, I don't have a cute little bag or basket so let's see what I can co with these brown paper lunch bags. Not too bad for the Talk About the Last Minute Valentine's Day Treat!