"popcorn" news and stories

Bring some carnival midway magic home with do-it-yourself caramel corn.

"I saw some students sneaking alcohol into the movie theater while they're eating their popcorn," says Pub-Corn creator Cary Silverman in this CNN Video report. Though my initial thought would be to manufacture some sort of popcorn bucket-shaped flask, or simply to stop these student and explain to them the value of a good Thermos, I guess that's why becoming an inventor isn't as easy at it looks.

In the video, the University of Missouri student explains a few of the trials and tribulations he went through to create this non-alcoholic beer-flavored popcorn snack which also comes in Irish Cream and Pina Colada. Additionally, for a 25 cent premium, you can get your Beer Flavored Pub-Corn colored green for St. Patrick's Day. All varieties of Pub-Corn, including a variety pack, are available for sale on Pub-Corn's website.

What will Cary think of next? Possibly a more aerodynamic Milk Dud that can be better thrown at the screen during Michael Bay films? We can only hope.

[via CNN]

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Great news! Here's a kitchen gadget everyone can afford. Your popcorn just got way more awesome.

The Nordic Ware Microwave Corn Popper comes highly recommended by my very practical friend Shannon, who reports that it's really fast, doesn't need oil, and is a snap to clean. Sounds good to me!

This thing is $8.99 from The Kitchen Store, and microwave and dishwasher safe. You just put in the corn, put it in the microwave, and perfect, fluffy popcorn comes out. It's a stroke of Nordic genius.

I only wish it were pretty, so I could pass it off as a holiday gift. Guess I'll just have to get one for myself!

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A couple of days ago, I went into the kitchen at work to refill my water bottle, and discovered a big bag of caramel popcorn. It was open and sitting on the communal eats table, so I grabbed a paper cup and took a bit back to my desk to munch on. It was delicious and awakened my appetite for sweet, crunchy popcorn.

Last night, as I sat with my boyfriend watching election returns, the need for more popcorn became to demanding to ignore. Skipping to the kitchen, I pulled my Whirley Pop off its place on a high shelf and began a batch of honey butter popcorn. It's one of those simple non-recipe recipes that my mom used to make when called upon to bring snacks to school when my sister and I were young (she'd pack it into lunch bags for easy distribution).

Simply pop a batch of corn (I popped about 2/3 a cup of kernels). While it cools in a big bowl, melt half a stick of butter down with 2-3 spoonfuls of honey (it depends on your sweet tooth). Add a generous amount of salt and a splash of vanilla (optional, but it adds a great aroma). Let the honey butter mixture come to a foaming boil, stirring constantly. Once it has reached the boiling point, remove the pot from the heat and drizzle it over the popcorn, tossing the corn with a long-handled spoon as you pour.

If you were around in the 70s and early 80s, the words 'nutritional yeast' might bring up some uncomfortable food memories: brick-like multi-grain loaves, sprouted salads that looked ready to crawl off the plate, the dastardly carob. But please, give yeast a chance.

These marigold-colored flakes, often sold in bulk in health food stores, are inactive yeast grown on molasses then pasteurized and dried. Nutritional yeast's nutty, savory taste makes it popular among vegans, who sometimes use it to make faux cheeses. It also adds an umami flavor to soups, stews and gravies and is sometimes used as a popcorn topping.

Having read so much about nutritional yeast's cheesy flavor on vegan blogs, I became determined to try it out for myself. I picked up a small baggie from the bulk bin at Whole Foods, which cost less than a quarter. That night I made popcorn, drizzled it with lavish amounts of butter, then added salt and a good handful of the yeast. It was delicious - cheesy, rich, sort of earthy. Totally addictive. I'm going to try it in some vegetable soup next time.