Just because you choose to live simply, doesn't mean you need to give up any of the basic pleasures of life... like popcorn! Back in the dark ages, before the microwave oven -- before even Jiffy-Pop -- people made and enjoyed this light, fluffy, tasty treat. Here's how to make it on an electric stove, wood stove, or even a campfire.
Ingredients
- Organic popcorn purchased in bulk from a health food store, or any other popcorn
- Any healthy cooking oil
- Sea salt, or any kind of salt and/or spices
- Butter (if desired)
- Sugar (optional)
Step 1
Put a 1/4 pound (one stick) of butter into a large (8 quart or larger) stainless cooking pot, or any large pot or bowl that has a lid or anything to cover it. Use more or less as you prefer.
Step 2
Get a rip-roaring fire going; high heat is best for this method. If you have a propane or electric stove, just turn it on high once the popcorn is ready to pop.
Step 3
Pour a single layer of popcorn kernels into a saucepan with a lid. Pour in a healthy, high-temperature cooking oil to just cover it. Seat the lid on it.
Step 4
Place the pan onto the stove at high heat. After a minute or two, you should hear the first pop.
Step 5
The popping noise will grow more and more rapid as the pan and oil get hotter. At some point either the popping will slow down to where you don't hear any pops in a 3-second count, or the saucepan will start to overflow.
If the popcorn rises to where the lid lifts off the pan: before it overflows onto the stove, dump some out into the large container, and quickly place the pan back on the stove. - Once the popping has slowed so that you don't hear any pops in 3 seconds, dump the entire contents of the pan into the large container (the popcorn will have absorbed all the cooking oil). If you'd rather have a few scorched kernels rather than risk unpopped kernels, you can wait a few seconds longer.
Step 6
Sprinkle salt over this batch, turn the large container upside down, and shake it to melt the butter and distribute the salt throughout.
Step 7
Repeat, starting at step 3, until the large container is full.
Step 8
Place the large container over the fire for 20 or 30 seconds to make sure the butter is melted.
Step 9
Shake the popcorn one final time, right side up and upside down, to thoroughly distribute the butter and salt.
Step 10
If want to make the popcorn taste sweeter sprinkle some sugar on it just before you eat it. How much depends on depends on how sweet you want it to be.
Step 11
Eat and enjoy!
Warnings
- Find enough people to help eat it, or you will not stop until the last piece is gone. There is just no way to stop stuffing yourself with it.
- Realize that Canola oil's health benefits are hotly disputed, despite manufacturer claims.
Things You'll Need
- A large, 8-quart or better pot, and a smaller saucepan, both with lids
- A stove or campfire
