Archive for the ‘Popcorn’ Category
A Brief Look at Popcorn’s Popping Past
Popcorn was first discovered thousands of years ago by the Native Americans. Some tribes believed that the popping noise was that of an angry god, above Mother Gaya, who escaped the kernel.
During the Great Depression, popcorn was comparatively cheap at 5-10 cents a bag and became popular. Thus, while other businesses failed the popcorn business thrived and became a source of income for some struggling farmers. During World War II, sugar rations diminished candy production causing Americans to eat three times more popcorn than they had before.
At least six localities (all in the United States) claim to be the “Popcorn Capital of the World”: Valparaiso, Indiana; Van Buren, Indiana; Marion, Ohio; Ridgway, Illinois; Schaller, Iowa; and North Loup, Nebraska. According to the USDA, most of the maize used for popcorn production is specifically planted for this purpose; most is grown in Nebraska and Indiana, with increasing area in Texas.
As the result of an elementary school project, popcorn became the official state snack food of Illinois, a first in popcorn history.
How to Pop Popcorn
Cooking popcorn on the stove is an old-fashioned twist on modern day life. Some kids nowadays might not even know it’s possible to cook popcorn outside of a microwave or a hot air popper. If you’re holed up in a rental cabin with no microwave and a four-burner stove, consider trying to make popcorn the old fashioned way. Making popcorn the old-fashioned way might bring back memories as well as make your kids think you’re some kind of genius. Read on to learn how to cook popcorn on the stove.
• Put your pot on the stove, and put the heat up to medium high.
• Add 2 to 3 tbsp. of vegetable oil. Roll around the pot to coat the bottom. Add one popcorn kernel.
• When oil starts to smoke, or when the one kernel pops, the pot it is ready.
• Pour in one cup of popcorn kernels. Let them heat up, shaking the pot gently over the flame, back and forth to roll the kernels around. When one pops, put the lid on.
• Continue shaking as the popping continues, shaking pot quickly across the burner. Don’t stop shaking the pot or the popcorn will burn.When the pops start slowing down (or the lid starts rising off), take the popcorn off the burner, turning off the burner.
• Sprinkle the popcorn with salt, tossing the popcorn by gently lifting the pot up and down. Enjoy. Add melted butter, if you’re inclined
A Delicious and Diet-Friendly Snack
If you’re a youth minister or run any kind of program where there is going to be large groups of children together at any one time, it can be a daunting task trying to find snacks that will accommodate that large of a crowd. It has to be something that a great number of people are sure to like, and it also has to be something easy to prepare. With these two criteria in mind, it’s a good idea to use popcorn as your fallback snack. But don’t simply resort to microwave popcorn. Offer the kids a healthier alternative.
To that end, purchase wholesale popcorn, which comes unpopped and ready to make. All you’ll need is several air poppers working at the same time, and before you know it, you’ll have a huge supply of popcorn to keep the kids munching and happy. While some people stand by the stovetop method of popping popcorn kernels, this will simply be too time consuming for a large group. And don’t forget that buying in bulk offers some unexpected benefits. One, you’ll save money upfront because the popcorn will be cheaper per pound. And two, unpopped popcorn will keep. So even if you don’t go through the entire wholesale purchase, you’ll be able to use it the next time there’s a large get together.
A Delicious and Diet-Friendly Snack
When people go on diets, they are often most dismayed at their inability to eat snack foods. Chips are off the list. Cookies are certainly gone. And forget about ice cream. While it seems like every other food is a no, there is usually one snack food that remains okay. And while it can feel like a guilty pleasure, popcorn is usually allowed on many diets. The only thing to keep in mind with this healthy snack is that it’s only healthy so long as it isn’t drenched in butter and salt.
While this is the appeal for many people, if you can learn to love popcorn with little to no additives, it can make a delicious snacking staple without feeling like you’re dishonoring your diet. The best way to keep popcorn healthy is by throwing unpopped popcorn in a hot air popper. This way, the popcorn comes out with zero salt and zero butter (and not to mention zero chemicals), which is something that can’t be said for the microwave options.
The Perfect Pop, Every Time
Popcorn remains one of the most popular and prevalent snack foods in American homes. Whether you’re eating it smothered in butter and salt while watching a movie or you’re eating it plain as a healthy snack, every popcorn connoisseur is on the hunt for how to make the perfect bowl of popcorn. Microwave popcorn is immediately problematic. Having to rely on microwave settings, the bag is invariably less than perfect. There are un-popped kernels in the bottom of the bag, while other pieces are left charred and blackened.
If you are seeking the perfect popcorn experience every time, you should definitely go with kernels and an air popper. The air popper spits the popped, fluffy pieces of popcorn out of the heat and into a bowl below, so each piece is popped when it’s ready and never overcooked. It also means you can add your own desired amount of salt and butter, so even if people in your family have differing tastes, everyone can have a perfectly seasoned and delicious bowl of popcorn.
How Did Popcorn Become King?
Today, popcorn might conjure images of multiplex theaters, but it has actually been a staple in our daily lives for many, many years. Popcorn was said to be first discovered by Native American Indians. Unlike today’s popcorn fans, who greet the popping sound of popcorn with salivating glee, Native Americans considered the popping sound to be an angry god escaping the captivity of the kernel. And while it was introduced to the general public long before, popcorn became truly popular during the Great Depression.
As the nation struggled to make money and stay afloat, the popcorn industry still thrived. As a snack food, it was comparatively cheaper than everything else. In that economic climate, this was obviously desirable. Continuing popcorn’s popularity, the nation saw severe sugar rations during World War II, and this diminished intake of candy only served to bolster popcorn all the more. Today, it remains a very popular snack, coming in previously unimaginable and creative flavors and forms.
Popcorn Wagons
With the advent of the modern movie theater, popcorn was sold from wagons parked outside of movie theaters. The owners of these wagons were private business owners not affiliated with the theater owners. Eventually theater owners realized they could be reaping these popcorn profits themselves.
Charles T. Manley, an inventor from Butte, Montana, gave theater operators the chance to do just that. In 1925, Manley perfected the first electric popcorn machine and began selling it to movie theater operators. The irresistible trapped smell of fresh made popcorn quickly made it the movie snack of choice and the perfect partnership between popcorn and movies was born!
Healthy Popcorn Snack
Can you imagine watching a movie without it? Weather it’s at home or at the movies, popcorn continues to be an American favorite, with most of the popcorn in the world coming from Nebraska and Indiana. And Americans consume over one billion pounds of popcorn every year… That’s roughly 70 quarts a year for every American!
Air-popped popcorn is naturally high in fiber, low in calories and fat, contains no sodium, and is sugar free. This can make it a healthy popcorn snack to people with dietary restrictions on the intake of calories, fat, and/or sodium. That being said, popcorn is usually served salted or sweetened. In the US, it is traditionally served salted, although a sweetened version, generally called caramel corn, is also commonly available.
Delicious and Healthy Snacks
Let’s face it, delicious and healthy are two words that seldom go together, but in truth there are all kinds of delicious snacks that are also healthy! For example; a little pineapple and cottage cheese is a delicious snack that is affordable and healthy. You might also think about a healthy popcorn snack (just go easy on the butter!). If you’re looking for a healthy drink, avoid soda, fruit drinks, and kool-aid, and opt for water with a little lemon or Crystal-Light.
In general, if you avoid processed snack foods like potato chips, candy, and crackers, you’ll be on the right path. Try to choose more organic choices like fruit, unsalted grains, and even vegetables (just remember to avoid the dips and dressing!). When you eat healthier, you’ll also notice that you start to feel much better, have more energy, and even start to lose weight. It’s all the processed food in the diet that causes people to balloon up and lead unhealthy lives.
Affordable Entertainment: Movie Night!
In these tough economic times, even venturing out once or twice a week can break the budget, but staying in is affordable and often a lot more fun! Scheduling a movie night with your spouse or family is a cost efficient form of entertainment. But this doesn’t mean you have to sit down to whatever boring movie is on television, with just some spare change, you can still have a near authentic movie experience. First, start with the entertainment; rent a movie from a local movie store, or even better, borrow from a friend. Purchase some gourmet popcorn from the store and any other candies, soft drinks, or chips you want. Dim the lights (or turn them off all together), plop down on the couch with your loved ones, and you’ll have a great time!
You might even schedule movie nights with friends or other family members to cut costs. If you can’t find a suitable movie, the public library is another great place to look, and most of the time it’s also free!