The kids and I have always loved popcorn. It wasn't until they asked our babysitter to make it, that I totally forgot most of the world microwaves their popcorn. The kids showed her the pot, the oil and the bag of popcorn. She said they had better wait until their parents get home.Until you teach someone to cook, you don't always realize what a huge step it is for them to make anything that doesn't come in a microwavable package. Cooking doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. It's really quite easy and quick. In fact, I prefer to teach easy and quick. If it has too many ingredients, chances are I won't make it and neither will you. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I like to do it up and get all fancy with food. I save those occasions for the occasional Sunday or the holidays. Most of the time, it's a cast iron pan, a stoneware casserole dish or crock pot that gets the job done. You can thank my mother for that. She was and continues to be the queen of one pot meals.
But I digress, we're talking about popcorn here. As a kid, making and eating popcorn is one of my favorite memories. I remember my mother forgetting the lid on the pot and popcorn popping all over the kitchen. Then there was my neighbor who would only eat it with a spoon in a bowl. And, of course, my dad - who, always appreciated being served the first bowl on the back porch on his rocking chair. I remember him shirtless in the summer and the stray popcorn getting caught in his chest hair. He'd say, "Saving it for later."
This recipe is fun, easy and inexpensive. The best part is you can experiment with it. You can add melted butter, sugar or honey to the mix and come up with your own concoction. We like salt and grated Romano cheese. For us, this recipe is about the experience of making the popcorn as much as the eating of it. It's an event. Something the kids look forward to. It draws us closer together as we share in the experience of making it and creating a ritual around it.
Paper Bag Popcorn:
1 grocery store paper bag
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1/4 cup sesame oil
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt
1 pot with a lid
Pour oil in the pot and add butter. Turn heat to high, put the kernels in and cover with lid. Give it a few minutes and you'll hear them start to pop. There is no science here, but when you hear them really popping is when you have to turn the heat to medium. Another minute and turn the heat off. Just let it finish popping. Pour popcorn in the bag with salt and anything else. Close the bag by folding it over and shake like crazy. You can eat it out of the bag or put it in a bowl.
The directions are something you will have to 'feel around' with. As each stove, pot and patience is different. FYI - burning a pot or two is part of the process.
Posts
