"Do we have any popcorn?" I asked.
"Yes," she said.
"I think I'll make some popcorn."
A moment of puzzled, disbelieving silence.
"Do you have a recipe for popcorn?"
"Yes," I replied enthusiastically. "There's one in the Mark Bittman book."
I know popcorn is barely beyond making toast or freezing ice cubes on the culinary challenge spectrum but the truth is, I'd never made popcorn on a stove top before. Plus, the Bittman book - How to Cook Everything: The Basics - has a trick I wanted to try: putting three corn kernels in with the oil as test subjects. According to my wife, Alton Brown poo-poos this idea but if it's good enough for Bittman, it's good enough for me!
Wouldn't you know, I got impatient. As soon as the first kernel popped, I got curious about the other two. Was it remotely possible they could all have popped at the same time? Well, of course not. And naturally, one popped the instant I lifted the lid, ricocheted off my face on to the floor.
The popcorn turned out just fine. Next time, I'll use a bigger pot for the half cup of corn in the recipe. I used our largest sauce pan but it wasn't enough space. Next time, Le Creuset!
I use to always make popcorn on the stove, shaking hte pan so it wouldn't burn and I still think it makes better popcorn than the air popper (but there is more calories)
ReplyDeleteSo easy. Not sure why I never had the nerve to try before.
DeleteNot a big pop corn fan. But I do remember when my mom would pop the microwaveable version the stove.
ReplyDeleteI like popcorn but it's gotta be fresh.
DeleteI love popcorn. I make it in a brown paper bag, some olive oil or avocado oil.
ReplyDeleteCook a few minutes and walaa, instant yummy.
I used to make it on the stove but this way is wonderful.
cheers, parsnip
I'll have to try it.
DeleteYou can just pop it in the bag plain and add whatever later.
DeleteSounds good to me.
DeleteI grew up on popcorn made on the stove and it is the best, I just love it! Glad you enjoyed yours. :)
ReplyDeleteIn my earliest popcorn memories, my father made it on the stove. Nebraska football games on TV were always popcorn-worthy. Later on, we had an electric popper. That was awesome because I could make it myself and I loved the little tray for melting the butter.
DeleteWe made popcorn on the stove when I was a kid, but when our first microwave came home, that put and end to that. My mom stopped cooking all together except for holidays and special occasions, but my dad still enjoy cooking and teaching me everything he knew. Oddly enough, I stopped eating popcorn for about 8 years. Now I only eat it if it's flavored or kettlecorn.
ReplyDeleteIt was a long time before we got a microwave. To me, it still sort of feels like cheating.
DeleteBefore we had microwave, we were popping corns in big pots on stove!
ReplyDeleteSounds fantastic! It's hard to beat the smell of freshly popped corn, too.
DeleteA pal of mine loves popcorn and microwaves the stuff every night. Its disguises smoke and alcohol very well.
ReplyDeleteHa! I suppose it would.
DeleteI was on a popcorn kick for a while. I don't have a microwave, so I make it on the stove. Love it when it is fresh and warm. :) I want a popcorn maker now. Hope that kernel didn't hurt when it hit you in the face!
ReplyDelete~Jess
Just a little wounded pride...
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