Feasting Friday- Popcorn

We have to talk about popcorn for just a moment.

thanks smallbitesonline.com

Popcorn is my frenemy. On the one hand, properly made and consumed in moderation, popcorn is actually good for you, and as a snack, a much better choice than chips or cheesy things. On the other hand, moderation is often hard to come by. Popcorn is one of those things I cannot ignore, if it is near me, even BAD neon-yellow-overly-salt-slightly-stale bar popcorn, I am powerless to its siren song.  At movies, despite my best efforts, the bag never much makes it past the first ten minutes of the film.

Growing up, and even today, my dad always made the popcorn. Pretty basic, just oil and popcorn and salt, served in one enormous woven wood bowl, with little individual bowls on the side. Plunking down in front of the annual showing of Wizard of Oz, or the latest episode of Hill Street Blues, those perfectly popped kernels of goodness were the best possible couch snack.

When the microwave popcorn fad started, I was perplexed. Popcorn takes like five minutes on the stove. And doesn’t taste of chemicals. Why would anyone buy that? Over the years I have taught many friends to make popcorn “from scratch”, and they are always amazed at how fast it is, and how much better it tastes.

My version is pretty basic. Stockpot with good lid on over high heat. Eyeballed 3 T of peanut oil, canola in a pinch. ¾ c Orville Redenbacher popcorn kernels. (yes, Orville Redenbacher. I have tried others. This one is the best. Full stop.) Dump into pot and swirl to be sure the oil coats all the kernels. Plunk on cover. Wait for popping. Don’t touch. When popping slows from roiling explosions to gentle occasional pops, remove lid, and give one shake just to get the last few popped. Dump in bowl and salt to taste. If it takes you more than five minutes start to finish, I’d eat my shoe.

The problem with this ease and deliciousness is that it makes one crave an enormous bowl nearly nightly, which can wreak havoc on both the diet and the digestion. It takes much willpower not to popcorn binge with regular frequency. But I have discovered that by abstaining for a while, and thinking of it as a treat and not a major food group, I have brought a lot of the joy back. A couple of weeks ago Charming Suitor and I were getting ready to snuggle up on the couch and watch a DVD and I suddenly realized we had never eaten popcorn together. This seemed a travesty of enormous proportions. Especially since I didn’t even know whether he LIKED popcorn. I cleared my throat and said, somewhat nervously…

“Would you want popcorn with this movie?”

“Um, YES! That would be great! I love popcorn!”

Reason #74 on the list of why I love this man.

“Be right back.”

I went to the kitchen. Five minutes later, I came back. One bowl. Two hands, bumping into each other occasionally. Crunchy, salty, easy. The bowl is definitely more satisfying when shared. He told me it was the best popcorn he had ever had. And even though it didn’t taste any different than the gazillion other times I had made it, he was right. It was the best popcorn I’d ever had too.

Want to gild the lily? Try one of these recipes.

Herbed Popcorn

3 T peanut oil
¾ c popcorn kernels
3 T nutritional yeast (this will be with the dietary supplements at your local Whole Foods or health food store, and while it sounds like a strange addition, it has a nutty flavor that is reminiscent of parmesan cheese and pairs great with popcorn…if you can’t find it, you can substitute grated parmesan)
1 t ground mustard powder
1 ½ t salt (and more to taste)
1 t dried thyme leaves (or herbes de Provence or Italian herb mix)
½ t garlic powder
¼ t cayenne pepper (optional)

Mix all of the spices and herbs with the nutritional yeast in a small bowl.

Put oil and popcorn in a large pot, shake to be sure all the kernels are coated, cover pot with tight fitting lid and turn the stove burner on high. Leave the pot alone until you hear the popping slow down, and then give it a shake or two just to be sure that you are getting all the kernels popped. When the popping slows to three seconds between pops, turn off the heat, remove the lid, and pour the popcorn in a bowl large enough for you to mix it around easily. Sprinkle hot popcorn with about 1/3 of the yeast/spice mix and toss popcorn thoroughly. Taste. Add more yeast mix and salt until you get the flavor you want. Once you have the right balance, let the popcorn sit uncovered at room temperature until completely cool. Store in Ziploc bags or Tupperware containers for up to 36 hours. You can toast on sheet pans in a 400 degree oven for 3-4 minutes to recrisp or if you want to serve warm.

Thanks myrecipes.com

Awesome Caramel Corn

6 quarts popped corn (see method above)
1 c butter
1/2 c light corn syrup
1/2 t baking soda
2 c brown sugar
1 t salt
1 t vanilla
1 c toasted sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 250.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter. When it has stopped foaming, stir in corn syrup, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring pretty constantly. Once it begins to boil, stop stirring and let cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the soda and vanilla very carefully, as the mixture will foam up and expand. Put the popcorn in a large mixing bowl. Pour the caramel over the popped corn and mix well. Sprinkle the almonds in and give one last mix. Spread the corn onto buttered sheet pans and bake for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Brown Butter Kettle Corn

3 T peanut oil
¾ c popcorn kernels
½ stick butter
1 T granulated sugar (I use Superfine if I can get it, but regular sugar works great)
Salt

In a small saucepan, heat the butter over medium high heat until the butter solids go a lovely golden brown, but don’t let it burn. Should smell nutty. Remove from heat and reserve. Make popcorn according to directions above. Drizzle browned butter over popped corn, tossing to combine. Sprinkle with sugar and toss well, then salt to taste.


Yours in Good Taste,
The Polymath