Lost premiers tonighttomorrow. What will you be snacking on? How about homemade popcorn . . . and I'm not talking about the microwave stuff.
While I try to avoid one hit wonder appliances and don't own a bread maker, egg poacher or rice cooker, I do have a West Bend Stir Crazy pop corn popper ($24.60 at WalMart.com and Amazon).
At times, squeezing such a large appliance into my small kitchen seems silly, but the popcorn it produces is perfect, never greasy or burned. Every time I make popcorn for a guest, they're wooed by the smell and they can't resist. After a couple of handfulls, they want to know my secret.
My secret is the popper and the popper's secret is the "stir crazy" arm that spins across the base of the machine. It keeps all the kernels moving, making sure that nothing burns. I've tried making popcorn on the stove, standing there shaking the pot back and forth, but every time it burns. Worst of all, burned popcorn leaves black marks in the bottom of my pans that are very difficult to clean.
Some popcorn making advice: Don't melt the butter in the well on top of the popper, it makes a greasy mess. Instead, use the microwave or a butter warmer. The popping sound will make you very curious about what's going on in the popper, but don't lean in too close to the action. The steam released by the popping kernels can burn; be careful. If you're up for adventure, try seasoning some of your popcorn with curry powder or grated Parmesean cheese.
Enjoy the show!
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You can make healthy popcorn in your microwave-- just cut the top inch or so off of a brown paper bag, so it can stand up in your microwave and ALMOST touch the top. add 1/4 cup unpopped popcorn, toss in a bit of olive oil , microwave until the popping slows. only a few kernels will pop out of the bag, almost all stay in because the bag is so tall. then pour salt into the full bag and shake before putting in a bowl.
Not to bring your party down, but I'm pretty sure 'LOST' premiers on Wednesday (Oct 4) during it's regularly scheduled time. It even shows that way in the ABC schedule. Check the bottom of the page...no 'LOST' tonight...
http://abc.go.com/
I say make the popcorn anyway and watch 'Boston Legal'.
A friend of mine finishes off popcorn with a dash of truffle salt. Heavenly!
Jon, you're right. Sorry about that . . .I fixed the post. In my zeal for all things popcorn and preimer week related, I mixed up the days. Tomorrow also brings the Project Runway season 3 reunion! Should give me just enough time to find some truffle salt.
What other seasonings would be good on popcorn in place of butter? Curry? Some chili powder?
Also, I always was wondering about the hot butter melter on top of the popper...good to know that it's just easier, not to mention cleaner, to use the microwave.
Parmesan, chili powder, or chili flakes
Cumin, coriander, cayenne
With olive oil&butter combo (I'm not a huge butter fan)
Chris,
I wouldn't have wanted you to sit in front of the tube and having the time roll around and think "maybe it was central time" and then later "maybe it was pacific...".
Good luck with the truffle salt.
While melting the butter I put in a few shakes of the green Tabasco sauce. Nutritional yeast is good too. Not in the butter but sprinkled on seperately.
I made the best movie-watching popcorn the other night with the addition of cinnnamon, sugar, and a little salt. Heaven!