Pop It Like It's Hot
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
If you have spent much time around these parts, you would know that I am a popcorn aficionado, a gourmand of the cob if you will. I have looked down with abject scorn at those who would sink to eating store bought, microwave packing material rather than the delightful, stovetop butter-infused goodness that is better suited to my well-honed palate. I have proudly stated many times that microwave popcorn hasn't touched my lips in over ten years, a record I have held on to staunchly, even in the face of terrible hunger with crappy vending machine popcorn only three-quarters away.
I finally caved and had microwave popcorn last night. But before you wag your finger in contempt, let me tell you, it was divine.
I found a recipe for homemade microwave popcorn. I generally don't share recipes here because a)this is not a food blog b)most of my friends and readers couldn't cook their way out of a paper bag. But alas, this is cooking with a paper bag so even the most cooking challenged among you can pull this off. This is a great one for the kids to make too, easy peasy. Oh, and it tastes good, real good and you know what's in it so less this. Tonight, I will try my hand at a variation using raw sugar to make kettle corn, I'll report back. Alton Brown, you are my hero.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup popcorn
- 2 teaspoons olive oil(canola or veg will do and for those of you calorie conscious, most of the oil remains on the bag not in your belly)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or popcorn salt
- Paper lunch bag
- Stapler
Directions
Toss the popcorn with the olive oil & salt in the paper bag. Fold the top of the bag over and staple the bag twice to close. Place the bag in the microwave and microwave on high for 2 minutes to 3 minutes, or until there are about 5 seconds between pops.
NOTE: Popcorn salt is a super-fine salt that is designed especially for sticking to food such as popcorn. It has the taste of regular table salt, but its granules are much finer.
11 comments:
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How do you know your readers can't cook? I've been reading your blog for a long time now and I can certainly cook.
I said most but of course, there are a few of you that are whip up the goods. By the way Cagequeen, I've moved location to Huntington Beach(on edge of Crusty Mesa) so if you still want your lashes done, I'm pretty close. :)
What about the staples? You can't put staples in the microwave, can you? or are they just so small it doesn't matter? I'm Alton addressed this during the program. He's very thorough.
Sara, I was a bit concerned about the staples myself so I googled and found a bunch of recipes all with staples so I threw caution to the wind and had no sparks or problems.
By the way, my word verification is ANGSTAS which I think is like ganstas with angst.
I love Alton Brown. He's the Mr. Wizard of the Food Network, therefore my favorite "Food Network Star".
Although, I really like Ace of Cakes too. That crew is hilarious.
I CAN cook my way out of a paper bag, and with a few more sautes and daubs of mire-poix, I will be almost clear of the serrated edge...
I share your adoration of Mr. Brown, by the dubs. Sciene + Food = Dead Sexy.
I am very excited by the news you can put staples in the microwave.
Now I just need to find me some popcorn salt and I'm goldon.
I'm a big popcorn snob as well, which makes me skeptical. But as a scientist, I'm willing to give it a try.
Interestingly, you can put all types of metal into the microwave. The metal is not the problem, it's the shape or more specifically the gap between metal parts.
A standard table spoon for example will microwave quite nicely (I do this all the time for convenience). The microwaves simply bounce off the metal spoon and unless the spoon is sitting in something hot - never will get hot itself. In the case of the staples, they won't arc because the gap is insulated by the paper between.
In general keeping metal out of the microwave is a good idea since excessive arcing can damage the microwave or cause fire. So as a rule of thumb, no metal in the microwave.
BTW, the microwaved popcorn rocks!
Nerd:) And since when do you put spoons in the microwave? You can't even find the dishwasher :)
-"Oh, and it tastes good, real good and you know what's in it so less this. "
in the above quote...'this' is a link to safeway....the link is broken...
:)