Popcorn!!!

Have you ever read the ingredients on a bag of microwave popcorn??  Can you even pronounce half of what you're eating??  Why not try making popcorn on the stove?  It takes just a few minutes and tastes absolutely delicious.  Not only is it healthier, but think about how much less waste you're producing by forgoing the cardboard box, plastic wrapper, and paper bag that contain your movie time snack...

Supplies Needed:

A tall pot with a  lid.
Cooking Oil*
Popcorn **

Optional
Salt and Butter

You know the pot you use to make mac n cheese?  That's probably the one you want to use here.  You just want it to be tall enough to let you make a big tasty batch of popcorn.  Start with about 2 Tbsp of oil and a few (2 or 3) kernels of popcorn.  Cover and cook over medium high heat until you hear your test kernels pop.  Add roughly 1/3 to 1/2 Cup of popcorn and replace lid.  Constantly swirl your pan over the burner while the corn pops away.  It doesn't matter how you move the pan, back and forth, side to side, or around the world.  The big thing is just to keep the kernels in motion.  Once the popping slows down (when you would usually take the bag out of your microwave)  remove from heat and put the popcorn in a bowl.

If you want to add butter, simply cut up 1/4 to 1/2 a stick of butter and place it into the hot pan to melt.  You may or may not need to use low heat to melt the butter.  Once the butter is melted, pour it over the popcorn and shake the bowl to mix.  I don't have a cover for my popcorn bowl, so I just wrap a clean dishtowel tightly over the top of the bowl and give everything a good shake.  Add a pinch or two of salt before shaking if you so desire.

*For cooking oil, I prefer coconut oil.  It's rich in medium-chain fatty acids (AKA the good fats) and adds a wonderful nutty taste to your popcorn.  This oil will be sold in a glass jar in the natural food section of your grocery store.  It is solid at room temperature.  I also use coconut oil quite often for stir fry.  My boys love adding pineapple to our stir fry and the two flavors blend together very well.  

**Corn is one of the most common genetically modified foods (GMOs).  GMOs are not labeled.  The only way to ensure you are not eating genetically modified corn is to buy organic.