Like 1/3 of all Americans, I beat the heat this past weekend by going to the movies. We saw Inception, and while I found it thrilling and entertaining, it also made me feel like I have the brain span of an avocado.
As most people agree, it's not a day at the movies without popcorn. And I'm not talking about those greasy, unnaturally yellow packing peanuts in a squat $6 tub. I'm also not talking about a microwave popcorn bag that bloats and deflates faster than Janet Jackson between albums. I'm talking about real popcorn, cooked in a pot on the stove with oil, the way that God and Orville Redenbacher rightfully intended. I make it all the time, and am continually surprised that people eat their popcorn any other way since it's the cheapest, tastiest, and healthiest option besides air-popping.
Here's how it gets done:
Place two kernels in oil (I find peanut and canola oils work best), and put the lid on the pot. Once those first two pop, that's the green light to pour in the rest of the kernels. Fill the bottom of the pan with one layer of kernels only. And the type of kernels does matter, in my opinion. It's tempting to buy the super huge bag for $1.99, but I find that organic popcorn ($5-$6) has a much crisper texture.
I've had problems using any pot that's not non-stick. This cheap-o pot from a dollar store actually works best for me, go figure. Leave the lid slightly ajar while popping to let some of the steam escape while popping. This will keep the popcorn light and crisp.
The best thing about making your own popcorn is that you can inject whatever flavor you want to it. I love playing around with new delicious combinations. I brought two varieties with us to munch on at the movies this past Saturday.
{Drizzled with olive oil, shaved parmesan, garlic powder, rosemary, kosher salt and black pepper}
{Drizzled with honey, ground cinnamon, a little bit of sugar, kosher salt and topped with almonds}
What kinds of goodies do you sneak into the movies?
