Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Ingredient Spotlight: Popcorn

Today, we’re featuring recipes using popcorn!  Popcorn is a great snack – here are just a few stats about popcorn you might find interesting:

  • Popcorn is a variety of corn, but it is not the same as field corn and sweet corn; different plants, grown in different parts of the country.
  • Popcorn contains water inside the kernel, when heated this moisture turns to steam and puts pressure on the seed coat, which then pops and the starchy interior appears!
  • Old Maids are hypothesized to be caused by three things: they (1) were heated too slowly, (2) don’t have enough moisture inside to result in popping, or (3) the hull may be “leaky”.
  • Popcorn has two main shapes: butterfly (see above) and mushroom
  • Air-popped popcorn is high in fiber and low in calories, has no sugar or sodium… but be weary of “movie-theater” popcorn! 
  • Stay away from pre-packaged microwave popcorn.  Make your own instead – all you need is 1/4 C popcorn and a brown paper bag

Here are a few of our favorite ways to use popcorn:

Honey Butter Popcorn – When you are looking for a treat or a dessert popcorn, try this honey butte popcorn.   Simple and delicious.  Not overly sweet.  Get the recipe here

Papa’s Popcorn – My dad is famous for this stuff.  If you have a stove popper, give this recipe a go.  We can make a whole meal out of it.  Get the recipe here.

Grandma’s Sugared Popcorn – This recipe comes from my 93-year-old grandmother.  Better than kettle corn, and so perfectly my grandma.  Get the recipe here.

Chocolate Craisin Popcorn – Toss in some chocolate chips and craisins and you have a delicious after-school snack.  Get the recipe here

Apple Popcorn Munch – Dried apples, cinnamon, sugared popcorn and salty popcorn… delightful combination.  Get the recipe here

Do you like popcorn?  What is your favorite way to enjoy it? 

If you have a recipe to share, stop by Tiffany’s blog and link it up to the Ingredient Spotlight for this week!  I can’t wait to see all the other yummy popcorn creations. 

3 comments:

  1. Popcorn is my most favorite snack. Usually eat it the traditional way with butter and salt. Depending on the brand, I may opt for a little season salt or Accent for flavor.

    ReplyDelete
  2. There was an article in the Washington Post Food section a few years ago about popcorn flour, but I haven't played with that idea....yet.

    http://www.bigoven.com/recipe/70089/citrus-bread-w-popcorn-flour

    Here's another one I will probably try at some point. Just food for thought.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've totally had a hankering for popcorn lately! Especially something salty sweet. That honey butter popcorn is happening TODAY.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear from you; especially how you're finding JOY in your kitchen.

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