April 5, 2025

WEEKLY MENU 04.06.25

The Weekly Menu 04.06.25 features Caramel Popcorn! Why? Read on~

National Caramel Popcorn Night during the Weekly Menu 04.06.25 means we have a fun dessert in our future! We have a couple of gourmet popcorn stores here in beautiful Erieland, but we found a simple recipe to make caramel popcorn using the microwave, so we’re giving that a shot. Of course, you can buy it instead. And if you’re hitting up Great Lakes Popcorn in Erie, be sure to pick up a bag of the Dark Chocolate Sea Salt.

It.

Is.

Divine.

Where (and when) did Caramel Popcorn start?

Caramel popcorn was invented by two brothers, Frederick and Louis Rueckheim. The duo immigrated to the United States from Germany and took residence in Chicago, Illinois. During that time, they decided to kickstart a popcorn business, purchasing candy-making equipment from a Dutch confectioner. For years, they experimented with various flavors and toppings, until they tried something that was an immediate hit. Their new product involved a mix of molasses, popcorn, and peanuts and was first sold at the 1983 Columbian Exposition. According to popular lore, when they first began selling their product, one of their customers tried it and with glee, announced, “That’s a crackerjack!” Crackerjack meant “great quality” at the time, and after that event, the name stuck.

PoppedRepublic

If you just aren’t in the mood for caramel popcorn, check out our Sweet Spicy Popcorn instead. It’s deliciously spicy and crazy easy without the danger to your teeth. I show my method for making the popcorn on a stovetop in a Dutch oven; no special equipment is needed. But I’m sure you’re wondering, dear reader, how exactly is Caramel Popcorn hitting our menu this week?

Weekly Menu 04.06.25

It’s National Caramel Popcorn Day during the Weekly Menu 04.06.25—so naturally, we’re leaning in. We’re doing Sloppy Joe Sliders, tater tots, and a big batch of homemade caramel popcorn for dessert on Sunday night. It’s the low-effort, high-fun dinner that makes Sunday night feel like family night. Maybe we’ll even watch a movie when we’re eating!

But the rest of the week? We’re keeping it simple, hearty, and family-approved with:

Sausage-Stuffed Manicotti
Chicken Fajita Sheet Pan Salad
Crispy Chicken Caesar Sammies
Potato Leek Soup

If you’re looking for a way to skip the stress and still get dinner on the table every night, this week’s plan has you covered. Most meals use five ingredients or less, and everything comes together in about 30–45 minutes.

Let’s make dinner easy again. Scroll down for the full menu and recipe links!