Natural Popcorn...I Almost Forgot!

Do you think that kids today, or even 20-somethings know how to make popcorn without a microwave?  I sort of have a feeling that they don't.  It seems like microwave popcorn has become so ubiquitous that it's the only way to make it at home.

A couple of months ago, I was plowing through some articles on these hair-raising lung diseases contracted by workers who produce/package microwave popcorn.  It seems that diacetyl, the FDA-approved  compound used to enhance the buttery flavor is not meant to be breathed in...not even a little bit.  Add to this the fact that components of the popcorn bags can degrade in the heat of the microwave, releasing potential carcinogens into your snack.  When I finished these articles, I announced to mi esposo that I would never bring the stuff home again. He looked a little sad.

Fortunately, a fund-raising little boy scout rang my doorbell the very next day.  He was selling popcorn to earn money for his troop.  And whaddya know...the kid had some straight, natural, non-microwave-variety kernels for sale!  I ordered what may be a lifetime supply of popcorn.  It was delivered yesterday.

I hadn't made popcorn on the stove for a long time...although I used to make it daily in my college years:  my roommate sophomore year had me half-talked into her bizarre diet that involved not much more than a steady supply of popcorn, avocados, and black coffee.  So we made popcorn every day (If you are thinking of trying this diet, don't.  The roomie and I did look great that year, but I'm now positive that it had more to do with the fact that we were 19 years old and less to do with our cockamamie food regimen).

Making popcorn the old school way is not difficult.  It's just as easy as the microwave, really.  Here's how:

1.  Take a deep pot with a lid.
2.  Add a couple tablespoons of oil (or not...you don't have to if you are in the anti-fat camp)
3.  Add approximately 1/3 cup of popcorn kernals
4.  Put it onto a stovetop burner on high and listen...
5.  As soon as you hear a pop, get over to that pan and shake it.
5.  Periodically shake that pan, lifting it off the heat if need be (shaking keeps it from sticking and burning and also releases steam so your snack doesn't get all soggy
6.  When the popping slows down to almost nil, get it off the heat--it's done.
7.  Season it to taste.

Those seven arduous steps will take you a whopping five minutes.  You can clean that pot in about the same amount of time it would take you to throw away that greasy microwave bag.  What's better, even if you use oil to pop, it's only about 60 calories per serving.  Not to mention the fact that there is a whole lot less potential for contracting a chemical-based disease from your snack.  Finally, it's CHEAP.  (Hey, I'm part thrifty Scot!)  For 5 bucks, I probably got 5x the amount of popcorn I would. have received if I spent that 5 bucks on a microwavable product...and I don't have an armload of plastic-wrapped bags to add to a landfill.

WOW!  That was an easy better choice to make.  You should try it, too!