I hadn’t planned on posting today…really I hadn’t. I have a ton of stuff to do today and if I were going to actually post something, it certainly wouldn’t be something I just made 30 minutes ago. No, surely if I was going to post something today, it would come from the backlog of recipes I have in queue waiting to be posted.
Guess what? I am posting something today and it is the very thing I just made and am eating while typing. It must be something outrageously good if it is getting to jump ahead in line, don’t you think? Something like chocolate caramel covered cheesecake? Ooeey gooey cheesy lasagna? How about the most decadent homemade ice cream ever? Absolutely, not. Today, the food that has gotten me over the moon excited is Popcorn. Yes… popcorn! And not even an exotic flavored popcorn. Plain salt and butter popcorn.
I know, right? How could popcorn, even plain popcorn, be delicious enough to get this much attention from me? Well, it is…you have to trust me on this one.
We normally eat microwave popcorn around here, but two weeks ago I decided to buy some popcorn kernels and try to make popcorn the old fashioned way. Not quite sure what I was doing, I made my first batch of popcorn and it was good. Not great, but we liked it fine.
My girls were requesting popcorn today so I decided to Google stovetop popcorn to see what I could come up with. The first recipe that showed up was Elise’s recipe for Perfect Popcorn. With 115 comments raving about the goodness of this plain, buttered popcorn, how could I go wrong? I will admit that I was skeptical that it could be that good, because, really…its popcorn, people. I am here to tell you that you cannot go wrong with this popcorn recipe. It is so buttery (but not grease on your hands and soak through a bag buttery), lightly salted and cooked to perfection…not a single kernel to break a tooth on either!
If you want to pop up a batch of Perfect Popcorn, you can find the recipe on Simply Recipes. I suggest running, not walking, to the nearest store to snatch up the ingredients today!
Like a little flavoring to perk up your perfect popcorn? Give these recipes a try:
- Herbed Buttermilk Popcorn from 101 Cookbooks
- Peanut Butter Popcorn from Frantic Home Cook
- Popcorn Cereal from Tammy’s Recipes
- Vanilla Caramel Popcorn from Baking Bites
I use olive oil and sea salt. Perfect every time! Occasionally I’ll throw in butter too, but the olive oil really gives it a fabulous flavor and the sea salt just can’t be beat!
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What a perfect day to try this!!! My mouth is watering (and I just had lunch…not a good sign)!
This sounds delicious. I don’t have a microwave, and in any case, microwave popcorn isn’t avaliable here. We do find the old-fasioned kind, but sometimes it’s hard to get it all popped. Thanks for pointing the way to this recipe!
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It was probably four or five years ago that I received a Whirly Pop stovetop popcorn maker as a gift. It has a vented cover with a stirring mechanism in it. I have popped a bajillion kernels in that device and think, next to the toaster, it is the most used small appliance in our kitchen. Perfect every time, and delightfully crispy. The method it requires is about the same as Elise’s.
I also think that white popcorn simply pops better, lighter and more flavorful than yellow, but that’s JMHO. There is nothing finer and more ‘snack-worthy’ than buttered popcorn!
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When I was growing up, we used to eat popcorn nearly every night. It was a ritual. Our mom made it on the stove and would melt margarine and put salt on it. We’d then watch tv and talk. Those were the best times.
.-= AJ´s last blog ..Day 1 =-.
really good, plain popcorn is HARD to resist! sounds like Elise has found the perfect way to pop it at home! Yum!
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Just the ticket!
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I wish I had some popcorn for my afternoon snack! Stove popped is the best!
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I really enjoy popcorn for a snack and it’s way better for you than chips when you need something salty…but hubby doesn’t like it and neither does my 4 year old, so you can guess how often I eat it. Growing up my dad always made popcorn in a popper, not micro, whenever we watched movies as a family. We’d finish it off with ice cold pink lemonade. I still look forward to that when we visit him!
This does look good. Wouldn’t have thought about trying it because we’ve gotten so used to microwave but we’ll have to give it a go.
And great photograph! Love the lighting.
My dad used to always pop popcorn on the stove! Mmmm… good!
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Baked Grouper with Chunky Tomato Sauce =-.
My dad always made us stovetop popcorn…because for a long time we didnt have a microwave! It’s still my favorite!
You’ve inspired me! Going to go check it out, for sure. It must be really good if it got bumped to the head of the line!
.-= Elle´s last blog ..Vegan Brunch: Tofu Rancheros =-.
Kudos to you and Elise! Read this, hopped over to the stove and popped up a batch — “homemade” popcorn is my favorite and I’m a pretty good popper myself. This method worked well and produced a nearly perfect number of popped kernels. Salted the oil for the first batch, but thought it made the popcorn tough. Second batch, with salt adding after popping, was perfection. Sometimes it’s the simple things that taste best!
.-= Cora@CoraCooks´s last blog ..Knock – Knock =-.
Darn, I just bought 2 boxes of microwave popcorn. This looks so much better and my daughters would love to make it with me. Back to the store for some popcorn kernels. Thanks for sharing…I will definitely be trying this method.
.-= Jamie´s last blog ..Tuna Salad Wrap =-.
I ditched microwave popcorn years ago and have never looked back.
.-= leslie´s last blog ..Pecan-Pretzel Crusted Chicken =-.
Can’t wait to try this!
.-= veron´s last blog ..Crossroads… =-.
This is great. I am always suprised that people dont pop themselves. Its so easy and soooooooo good.
.-= DailyDiner´s last blog ..Blueberry Cobbler w/ Cream-Butter Crust and Weekly Dinners =-.
How funny, so glad you liked it! That’s just the way my mom has made popcorn for years. So much better than microwave. 🙂
.-= Elise´s last blog ..Tomato Pie =-.
I just added “real” popcorn to my grocery list. Thanks! N
.-= Nella´s last blog ..Cabbage on the Grill =-.
That’s how popcorn is made at our house. Usually my hsband makes the popcorn but last weekend when he was out of town I made it myself. Simple and delishous. I did burn my pinkie on the hot pot, but it was worth it.
.-= Melanie´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday Aug. 10 =-.
There’s something magical about such simple and delicious foods, especially when they are made/cooked/baked perfectly. Yes popcorn can be perfect 😀
We pop 99% of our popcorn from scratch. In fact, it’s one of my husband’s few, dedicated coking jobs! I’ll have to share Elise’s recipe with him, I’m sure it’s as phenomenal as you make it sound.
.-= Sandie´s last blog ..Comfort Food, Breakfast Style (Recipe: Sour Cream Pancakes) =-.
Popcorn reminds me of Saturday nights as a child. My mom would set up the popper and fill and big bowl for just us girls. My husband didn’t understand why I insisted on registering for a popper when we were getting married. No micro popcorn here!
I love to grate parmesan cheese over my freshly popped popcorn. Plain ol’ butter and salt can’t be beat though.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..A Tiny Cake For A Big Birthday Month =-.
We Hawaiians like to put stuff like furikake and li hing powder on our buttered popcorn. If you can get your hands on some, try it out!
.-= Nate´s last blog ..Foodie Excursion to Ijok for Beggar’s Delights =-.
i some time use olive oil also butter while making popcorn.. love caramel popcorn the most. my younger daughters favorite 🙂
cheers!!
Popcorn the old fashion way is the best! I make it myself every now and then, to remember the ancient days with no microwave ovens…
.-= Paula´s last blog ..Princess Cupcakes =-.
You know I never liked microwave popcorn so I will definitely be trying this recipe – it does look pretty perfect!
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That recipe is great, thats almost how we do it, but we use olive oil, and omit the butter. Its funny, I bought popcorn yesterday, and there was only one little jar among all the different microwave selections of popcorn. Its sad so little people take time to make the good stuff!
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You changed your layout! Now the content loads right away instead of a minute or two after the sidebars! That’s awesome!
Among many other things, I’m obsessed with popcorn! I love the microwave stuff, but the old-fashioned is so yummy. Thanks for sharing this great recipe!
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I made this tonight and it was perfect! So yummy! I’d never made popcorn on the stove before, so I was surprised it turned out so great!
.-= Karly´s last blog ..Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies =-.
After seeing your popcorn photo, I had to try this. Loved it, although, I think I burned some of mine. It tasted like movie theatre popcorn. I chose to add butter and the kernals at the same time.
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I usually do microwave popcorn if I’m just eating it, but I do have a hot air popper that I use often as well. I’ve never made it on the stovetop. But since I have some popcorn kernels, I should definitely try this!
.-= Deborah´s last blog ..Cookbook of the Month Recipe – Toasted Coconut Ice Cream =-.
Instead of heading to bed as I should have, I found myself making popcorn at 10:30 at night! Ours was “practically” perfect as we had about twice as many un-popped kernels, but my popcorn has been hanging out in the cabinet for awhile. Brought back memories of TV nights with my mom as this was her method for making popcorn. I used the “Atom Pop” (made in Kansas! http://atompoppopper.com) that my mom gave me many years ago. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Popcorn is my most favorite snack. When I was single and could get away with such things, I used to eat it for dinner! So, I am off to check this out!