I love popcorn! (The kind you make at home, not the stuff they serve at movie theatres). There is something about making popcorn that makes one feel young again. Maybe it is because I have memories of the popcorn maker and how excited we would get as kids when my mom would bring out the blessed appliance! The first one we had was one of the dome ones – where you used oil and melted butter on the top while it was popping. We then updated to an airpopper – and we almost held our breath until the popped corn came rushing out the funnel. The advent of microwave popcorn took something away from the entire experience, plus it just didn’t taste fresh. Popcorn all of a sudden became just another processed food filled with strange chemicals and additives – instead, of a special treat.
Lately there has been a bit of “popcorn renaissance” going on at my house. I have thrown out the microwave popcorn and have returned to the good old days of making popcorn in a large pot, with oil, on the stove. I have also been playing with toppings other than simply “butter and salt”. I have listed some of my favorite recipes below. So go pop some corn, snuggle into the couch, and enjoy this mid-winter break!
My Personal Favorite
Plain and simple! I melt a little Earth Balance and then toss it onto the popped corn and then sprinkle a little nutritional yeast on top – mix – and eat! You could also try spraying the popcorn with olive oil – you just need something so the yeast will stick to the kernels.
Spicy Parmesan Popcorn (The Garden of Vegan – Tanya Barnard & Sarah Kramer)
A very grown up way to enjoy popcorn! Delicious and nutritious!
1/4 cup flax oil
2 tsp spice mix (2 tbsp chili powder; 2 tsp onion powder; 2 tsp cumin; 2 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp oregano; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp cayenne).
1/3 cup soy Parmesan cheese
large bowl of popped corn.
Stir the flax oil and spice mix together first; add to popcorn; then add Parmesan and mix.
Ooey-Gooey, Feeling Sorry for Yourself on a Saturday Night Popcorn
Shredded soy cheddar cheese
Earth Balance Spread
Salt
Popped Corn
You might have to play with the quantities until you have the proportions right. The amount of cheese and Earth Balance I use seems to vary with how sorry for myself I am feeling. Place soy cheddar and earth balance in microwave, heat until melted, pour over popped corn. Add salt to taste.
