Old fashioned popcorn tutorial....

This might seem silly to some people to post a tutorial about making popcorn, but honestly, you wouldn't believe how many people try and make this and say "it just doesn't taste like yours...what am I doing wrong?" So I thought it would make a fun post! Part of living simply and healthy (as well as frugally) was re-thinking snacks. We've always loved popcorn, and used to use an airpopper, but I burned out 3 of them....one batch just wasn't enough for all of us and I always over filled it. Then, like everyone else, we had microwave popcorn....until we got rid of our microwave! I remembered loving the popcorn that my mom always made on the stove when I was growing up, so after we tried it one time, we were hooked! Bags of popcorn are cheap, and store for a long, long time...we always have the ingredients on hand. This is one of the main snacks that I am requested to bring to many gatherings! Here is how I make our popcorn:

I only use WHITE popcorn, not yellow...it is a personal preference, but we all think the white tastes so much better! I heat up olive oil in my pot, then dump in popcorn....I don't measure, so generously coat the bottum of the pot with the oil, then generously dump in the popcorn. Put the lid on! (surprisingly, or maybe not so surprising....sometimes I get to doing something else and forget to put the lid on until it starts popping!)


While all that excitement is going on (the house is starting to smell good!)...I melt a little more than 1 stick of butter and about 1/4 cup of olive oil....if you skimp on the butter and oil...it will not taste as good! And....nothing will stick to it, either....better to eat the healthy REAL butter and olive oil! Don't skimp!

Ok...since I am not paying attention ( I might have shaken it once or twice), this is what happens...so at this point, I take it off the flame, dump 1/2 of it in my big bowl, shake it up and put it back on the burner to finish popping....shaking once or twice if I remember. DON'T BURN IT!

In layers, I drizzle a little butter, shake salt and parmesean cheese (the cheap kind), then drizzle a little more, shake a little more...all in layers until it is all in the bowl and coated! The end....it goes so fast! Sorry I don't measure, but you know....a little bit of this and a little bit of that makes it even better! My kids have made variations of this such as : instead of parmesean cheese, sprinkle on cinnamon and sugar....and add honey to your butter! Also, to the normal recipe, add garlic powder and chili powder for a wonderful, chili/cheese popcorn! And there you have it! Bon Apetit! ~Sue~