Snack Attack!!!

Hi, there! It's another grey day here, and there is more snow in the forecast. (*sigh*)  However, it is warm and cozy inside our home today, and our daughter wants a snack.  Not just any snack, mind you.  A WARM snack.  A snowy snack.  A snowy snack, you say?   Oh yes, indeedly do.  A snowy snack. (Say that 10x fast).


"Well," I ask our daughter, "what snowy snack do you want?" "Popcorn!" says our blondy-blue-eyed beauty.

Now THAT is a snack I can get behind!  We love popcorn here.  I grew up loving popcorn.  My dad was a popcorn pro, and would get out the popcorn maker during the winter (you know, that big clunky thing from the '80s, but it made great popcorn).  He'd make mounds of it, then melt down a ton of butter, pour it on and salt it up.  Yum.  I still love my dad's popcorn, but without all the butter (I can't eat buttered popcorn anymore - it's too slimy, to say nothing of my cholesterol levels).

Then...I met my husband.  He has taken popcorn making to the ultimate level.  The man is a popcorn genius.  He makes popcorn in a pot.  His popcorn is light, fluffy and just lightly, LIGHTLY salted to perfection.  Even my mom, who doesn't like to eat popcorn, loves my hubby's popcorn.

Now you know my popcorn-loving background, and you want to know how to make it yourself.  I know you do!

So, here I am at home, with my daughter who wants popcorn.  Luckily, Mr. Popcorn King has taught me the rudiments of making his popcorn.

Peanut oil.  Gotta have peanut oil.  High burn level, no added flavor, best to make popcorn with.
Kernel popcorn.  Do not use store brands unless you must.  Jiffy Pop is best, preferably yellow kernels.  (White kernels don't always pop as well, and there are more kernels left in the pot then when you make yellow).
A nice big pot with a matching lid.

We like Planters Peanut Oil

A container to put the popcorn in!
Salt - optional
Butter - optional
Any other flavoring you want - optional

Fire up that burner on your stove (if you have electric, let it warm up to hot!!!).  We have gas, so I apologize for not being familiar with electric; let's just say the hotter the better!

Yes, I like Strawberry Shortcake.

Put your pot on the stove, and pour about a tablespoon of peanut oil into your pan.  Wait about 30 secs to 1 minute, then drop 1 or 2 kernels into the bottom of the pot.  If they start to sizzle, your oil is ready to go.  Depending on the size of your pot (ours is a 6-quart), pour 1/4-1/2 cup of kernels into the bottom, pop the lid on, and shake it up (hold the handle and jiggle, so the kernels are coated with the peanut oil).

Ooooohhhhh

Give another shake or two over the course of the next minute or so.  You should hear the kernels starting to pop, and then it will go poppin' crazy.  KEEP THAT LID ON!!!!  Nothing worse than trying to peer into your pot, and getting a boiling hot popcorn kernel shot into your face (no, that has not happened to me, but people don't always think when they are cooking.  Safety FIRST!)

Big container!

When the popping starts to calm down, turn your flame or your burner off.  Remove the lid, after making sure you have the burner off, and no more popping sounds are coming out.

Pour into your container, and add your toppings.  We add about 1/2tsp of salt to ours, and mix it into our popcorn.  (We like classic popcorn).  Take yours to the next level!  Add paprika, grated cheese, cinnamon, sugar, butter, whatever you want.  Make it your own.  Make it GOOD.

Popped perfection.

Me?  I'm off to go have a snack attack with my little Nordic princess who is happily watching Lady and the Tramp (brilliant idea of my husband's today - a nice, quiet movie for our little chugabot girlie - thank you, my love!!!!).

Enjoy your popcorn and movie!!! (Make it a Disney one, hint! Hint!!!)

Until tomorrow, God bless and stay warm!