Popcorn

[TomK]

Here is the oldest Jiffy Pop commercial I found. I DO remember it. Those were the days...

VINTAGE JIFFY POP GENIE COMMERCIAL - YouTube

[Jim Bennett]

While Jiffy Pop is fun to watch, for me the taste is too much like cardboard. Even less a fan of microwave stuff at all either, WAY too much salt and fake butter....gross.

Any method that uses fresh raw kernels, with just a bit of oil needed to pop, wins out in my books. This way you get to flavour to suit your tastes, PLUS you get to use REAL BUTTER, not the refined vegetable oil substitutes.

My name is Jim, and I am a popcorn snob.

[KMS]

Okay, so what do you put on your popcorn once you have popped it? Back in my hippie days, hard to believe this but the fashion was kelp powder, brewer's yeast, and tamari (soy sauce). It wasn't as bad as it sounds. The soy sauce made it soggy though.

I have retained a fondness for brewers yeast (Red Star, a tasty flake style), but have reverted otherwise to simple organic butter and sea salt.

I also love popcorn balls but I never get the caramel right. Not a candy maker I guess.

[Jim Bennett]

Brewer's Yeast is a great topping for popcorn. I also have added a sprinkle of cayenne powder too, just enough to give it a bit of a kick. We picked up a few toppings sold at a farmer's market once that were quite good. Low on calories, and high on taste. Not sure if I could find them again.

Most of the time though, I just lightly salt and butter it.

[Timber Wolf]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Most of the time though, I just lightly salt and butter it.

Keep it simple, it is just popcorn after all!

[TomK]

Not a fan of microwave at all, but willing to give Jiffy Pop a try. It's been years. My favorite popcorn maker is an Aladdin No-Shake Corn Popper. Basically an aluminum pot with a lid that incorporates a thick wire loop. The loop goes down to the bottom of the pot. You twist the top around to agitate the kernels that are cooking in oil or butter. When I was a kid in the 50's my grandmother used it. I told her how good her popcorn tasted, and she gave me the popper after we got married. Not as good as Grandma's, but still better than any other method I've tried. I think even Jim would approve!

Tom

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by TomK

I think even Jim would approve!

LOL....But first I would have to try it. Maybe next time either of us are in the others territory, okay?

I did check out that popper online, it seems like a great unit.

[RogerDat]

Been using the same flat bottom pan with a slide over screen on a long handle for nearly 30 years. If one masters the Zen of not burning the stuff it works great.

Butter, salt, seasoning salt, and natures seasons. Grated parmesan cheese for a gourmet touch. But my favorite is just butter and salt. Wife does not want butter, dog and myself are in the butter camp. The dog sort of seems to favor the cheese version most of all.

[TomK]

That sounds like a plan, Jim. Yes, sadly that popper is no longer made. I saw a used one in decent condition go for $60+ on ebay a while back. They went away after air poppers became all the rage. We have one of those too, but not as good IMHO. I do enjoy firing up the air popper on the counter and shooting the popcorn into a large bowl. Our 2 little dogs jockey for position as some invariably overshoots the bowl. They never leave a kernel behind. My wife accuses me of missing on purpose, hehe.

My Mom's Mom is from Mt Forest, Ontario and her Dad was raised in the Montreal area. They met and moved to Michigan in the early 1900's. I've spent quite a bit of time in those provinces along with New Brunswick working with your military, fishing, and camping with the Scouts, but never west of Ontario. Our Scamp will change that. Can't wait!

Tom

[blodn1]

I've also been making popcorn with my camp stove on backpacking trips for years. I made an instructional video some time ago. Enjoy.

And I was going to sell my JetBoil! Thanks for the personal popcorn tip, Trent!

[blodn1]

And Jim, here are some easy seasonings: http://www.buzzfeed.com/notmonroe/19...r-popcorn-gg32.
Don't know how many calories are in any of them, but they look good, even without popcorn:-)

[Jim Bennett]

Yeah, some great ideas there. Some not so great too, but lots to choose from.