"Sky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:As the subject line says, "How do you make popcorn?" Do you make a
popcorn that isn't the usual? MW popcorn? Homemade?
I often make homemade popcorn on the stovetop in a medium size pan with
a bit of oil in the bottom and about 1/3-cup of raw popcorn. I also
place a paper towel between the pan and its cover to absorb excess
moisture while it pops. No special popcorn maker, no special dedicated
corn-popping equipment, just simple stuff already in the kitchen.
But, what about popcorn concoctions like 'cracker jacks' or
'fiddle-faddle' or some other flavored popcorn? I've often wondered if
I could take a 'cheese packet' from the 'blue box' and use that to make
cheese popcorn - would that work? What other variations of popcorn are
there? What say y'all?
Yes, I can 'google' for a lot of recipes, but I'd like to know what
recipes "y'all" can share. TIA.
Sky, who's too curious again <G>
P.S. MW popcorn is way too nasty IMNSHO!
P.P.S. Not to mention, this might be a nice change of topic <VBG>
I prefer my popcorn rather plain. Would use butter, but am allergic.
I use an old 2 Qt.Revereware pan. I popped corn in it once and got those
little black marks that never seem to go away. Then sometime later, I had
an accident with one of my other pans. Was cooking some chayote and forgot
I had it on. I stood there wondering where the smoke was coming from. So
rather than trying to scrub out the burned mess, I just bought a new set of
pans. Mine were getting rather decrepit anyway. They don't make Revereware
like they used to. But I saved the 2 Qt. pan just for popcorn.
I used to use olive oil, but these days I use coconut oil. I don't measure.
Just enough so it's about as deep as a layer of popcorn kernels. If I'm
making it just for me, I just use one layer of kernels. If I'm making more,
I add more oil and kernels. I have a tendency sometimes to add too much and
this doesn't work very well. Get a lot of unpopped ones that way but I
never seem to learn.
I buy my popcorn at the health food store. It's very fresh. I get yellow
and also some colored. When the bags start running low, I mix the two.
I then put the pan on the heat and turn the dial to 7. That seems to be the
perfect temp. I don't do anything else. Just wait for it to pop. I've
found it is not necessary to shake the pan or move it back and forth rapidly
like my parents used to do. Only if I have overfilled the pan do I need to
shake it to try to shake down the unpopped kernels. I will lift the lid
once or twice to let out the steam. Will have to try your trick with the
paper towel.
When the pan is full, I dump out the popcorn. If there is more left to pop,
I put it back on the heat and keep repeating until it's all popped. Then I
sprinkle on some Real Salt. I've tried using Smart Squeeze (the only
margarine I can find that I'm not allergic to). It gives a buttery flavor
but since the main ingredient is water, it makes it kind of soggy. Not so
great. I used to use a butter flavored salt but it contains real butter so
I'm allergic.
Daughter sometimes likes to put nutritional yeast on her popcorn.
I've read that you can melt some peanut butter with your oil and that gives
the popcorn a peanutty coating.
I've also heard that you can drizzle melted chocolate over it. That doesn't
sound appealing to me.
Last year I made tons of caramel corn for my daughter's school. We tried a
variety of recipes to get the best one. I OD'd on the stuff and I don't
think I'll want any sweet popcorn for a long time now.
Never could stand cheese on popcorn. Guess I'm just a fuddy dud.