Friday, September 9, 2011

My Popcorn Secrets

I’ve been the bearer of bad news lately. First it was skim milk, then salad dressing and last week I was urging you to “just say no” to nonstick cookware. It’s generally more fun to add than subtract and I’m happy to be here today to tell you to eat more of something. That “something” is popcorn and it happens to be a family favorite of ours.

A couple of weeks ago I experienced a popcorn convergence of sorts. We were in San Francisco at the divine Ferry Building/Market. My boys and I made our way through the various vendors. We hit Happy Girl Kitchen Co. where my son selected cinnamon, plum jam and I snagged a small jar of Meyer lemon and ginger marmalade. My salty son settled on porcini salt and we purchased gifts for both Granny and nanny.  As I was picking up some fruit and nuts for the plane ride home,  I came across a bag with what looked like red rice in it. It wasn’t red rice though, it was Rancho Gordo’s “Premium Crimson Popping Corn” and I couldn’t wait to try it.  The only problem was that I was heading back to a hotel so the Rancho Gordo I purchased would have to wait.

The next day we headed home. I sat down at the American Airlines terminal with a green juice (gotta love the SF airport) and a stack of magazines. As I leafed through the September issue of O, I saw an article featuring Cat Cora of Iron Chef fame and creator of the best lamb chop recipe ever. Cat talked about her boys getting home from school famished and her love for popcorn. I ripped out her recipe for “Pizza Popcorn” and felt between the crimson corn and this article; the universe was trying to tell me something. The universe was saying, “eat more popcorn” and you have to listen when the universe talks.

Why eat popcorn?
Popcorn is a gluten free, whole grain. As much as I love quinoa (technically a seed) and brown rice if I can choose those grains or popcorn there’s really no contest. Popcorn is a fantastic fiber source.  Surprisingly, popcorn is also a good source of antioxidants particularly polyphenols. Polyphenols may sound familiar as they’re found in high levels in green tea and red wine.  And popcorn is a high volume food; you get to have a nice serving. Three cups of plain, air-popped popcorn have under 100 calories leaving a little room for toppings.

PYOP
When you’re buying popcorn, and I’m not naming names, you don’t want to go for the boxes with bags of microwave popcorn inside,. There are many problems with these products. First, some contain bad fats, second one of the chemicals used for buttery flavor has been linked to lung disease in popcorn factory workers (Google “popcorn lung” and then purge any boxes you own) and finally the same chemical in nonstick cookware or PFOA is also in the lining of the microwave bags. The bottom line? PYOP or pop your own popcorn.

How do you PYOP?
We use this handy glass popper we got as a gift from the NY Rangers. I find it infinitely more useful than a Stanley Cup though my offspring may disagree. It’s very similar to this from Crate and Barrel. The O article also mentioned placing ¼ cup popcorn and ½ tsp. oil in a brown lunch bag. Fold over the top and microwave for 2 minutes or until popping stops. My friend Julie Negrin changed my life when she posted about popping in a pot on the stovetop (same proportions as above) cover for 3-4 over med-high heat. And finally there’s the whirly pop that my friend D. swears by.

Popcorn toppings are endless. Nutritional yeast, truffle salt, fresh herbs such as rosemary and cayenne pepper are some of my favorite or try the Pizza Popcorn. It turns out there was a popcorn secret I didn’t know. That crimson corn? When you pop it, it turns white. It’s really the best popcorn I’ve ever had.
What are your popcorn secrets/how do you pop it? What are your favorite after school or after work snacks?


31 comments:

  1. I had no idea popcorn is a good source of polyphenols. You've made my day! I buy popcorn from the bulk bin at Fairway then pop in the microwave in a paper bag like you suggested. I haven't used oil, but I've tried spraying the inside of the bag with a canola oil spray and that seems to work alright. Thanks for this post, I'll have to look for the crimson corn!

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  2. Yes, another "pro" for popcorn. So you're already PYOP, well done. How great are bulk bins?

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  3. I eat popcorn at least a few times a week as my snack! I use the Oprah method, placing a bit in a paper bag & microwaving it. I then toss with a bit of truffle oil and salt. DIVINE :)
    If I remember correctly you can get a bag at trader joe's for a dollar or two. It lasts me a few months!

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  4. the oprah method, love it. It's so cost-effective I agree, even the rancho popcorn was $3 I think. Yes, it's almost gone but that's 4 people having it quite often.

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  5. Definitely a PYOPer! The other day I made popcorn with our air popper and tossed it in peanut butter (it was really thin peanut butter like when you first open a new jar). The kids went crazy =)

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  6. Popcorn lovers unite! Definitely was raised a PYOP-er... What is it about brown paper bags do you think? My memories of Sundays are football, not that i watched, and popcorn. My dad's secret: Silo Salt, this amazing salt/pepper/herb mix, and a little too much butter (we're working on cutting back), throwing in the big brown paper bag and shaking like a maniac. Don't know how anyone can eat the movie theater stuff when the real deal is so much better! Lauren I think the porcini salt would be an amazing topping. Have way too much to say about this but definitely received a whirly pop for xmas within the past 3 years, ha

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  7. Carolyn- nice photo (ha). I knew there was something I liked about you, thought it was the snark but now I know it's the mutual popcorn adoration. We love butter too. Real, organic, salted butter.

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  8. For some reason I've never been a fan of popcorn. Just the smell of it makes me gag at the movie theatre...and no, this isn't a result of my pregnancy. I guess it's just a thought of all that butter and I really had no idea it was good for you. I'll definitely have to give it another try though since the methods you listed to prepare it sound a lot more delicious and appealing to me than the buttery, sugary kinds you see at the store. Rosemary on popcorn actually sounds really good!

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  9. I was so happy when I moved in with my husband and found that he had an air popper, too - double the popcorn AND he already agreed that air-popped was better! It's actually my dog's favorite snack, too (as long as it's plain and air-popped). It's the only people-food we give him, and he goes completely bananas when he hears me put the kernels in the popper. Hilarious!

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  10. Air-popped popcorn is a favorite of mine and I used a lot of it as a crutch when I lost 20 pounds (which I've kept off!. So far, though, I'm a loner on the toppings. I eat mine plain: no butter, no salt. Nothing. I just love the taste, the smell and the sensation of it between my teeth.

    I got the Food Network magazine yesterday and saw a little thing about a company selling the half-popped kernels. Those are my favorite.

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  11. http://www.halfpops.com/#home is the popcorn I mentioned.

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  12. I love popcorn, but didn't know it's so good for me! Happy news. I like the stove top method bc it reminds me of my grandmother and having popcorn when sleeping over at her house. The smell of burnt microwave popcorn is disgusting and lingering, so none of that in our house. I just went on a spice bender at Penzy's, so we'll try lots of spice and herb mixes on popcorn this weekend. Great post!

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  13. Caron, those half-popped kernels are great except that I cracked a tooth on one!

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  14. I use a presto microwave popper, and usually a touch of oil with it to help get the toppings to stick. Usually it's a bit of salt, garlic powder and cayenne pepper.

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  15. I'm totally in the half-popped fan club too! I will check out that site. Maria- I don't want to force you into anything but if you do end up turning around your popcorn situation let us know. I do agree that lingering smell can be intense.

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  16. I'm not a popcorn fan, although my 6-year-old LOVES it. So I indulge her by buying the microwave type - please forgive me! It's fast and easy and she doesn't eat it often...hopefully that's ok?

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  17. Nope Ameena, no forgiveness. That girl deserves the real stuff. Popcorn plus paper bag plus micro = still easy and not full of repulsive chemicals. I do like that we have another anti-pocornite commenter.

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  18. We LOVE popcorn! We actually don't have a microwave (shocking, I know) and use this http://www.amazon.com/Deni-15400-Electric-Popcorn-Maker/dp/B002LARFXC to make popcorn 1-2 times a week. Makes movie night super fun!

    I love to top with truffle salt and a dash of grated parm - yum!

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  19. Einat, i think you nailed something. It's not just movie night, there's something about popcorn that's fun. If you like parm you'd probably like nutritional yeast too. No microwave, not hard to believe. It's really only for popcorn for us.

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  20. you had me at truffle salt. it also reminds me, we recently went to this really fancy restaurant and one of the things we had was this fancy salt, it was some kind of smoky flavored salt. the waiter told us that you can order it online and i've been meaning to search around for it, or at least something similar. it tasted almost bacony, just very very smoky. this is a great after school snack, or tv-time snack and some of these fancy salts are a great topping that doesn't add too many calories. great suggestion.

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  21. Lauren, I love popcorn. I had no idea that it was so good for us....I have to dump the microwavable ones that are in the cabinet right now, thank you.

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  22. There were so many nights in college that I ate canned soup and a bag of microwave popcorn for dinner, I still cringe a little when I think about it! That said, I've been craving popcorn like crazy this week—it might be time to go the PYOP route. Good call with the truffle salt.

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  23. We're popcorn lovers too at our house. Sad to say I only gave up the microwave method a few months ago, but have been stove top popping ever since. It is SO EASY!!! I put 1/2 cup popcorn kernals with 1-2 Tablespoons oil in a large pan and place on medium high heat. Cover with a see-through lid {fun to watch!},and shake from side-to side until all popped. Add seasonings of choice! Definitely want to give the Rancho Gordon popcorn a try. Love visiting the Ferry Terminal Building when I'm in SF :-)

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  24. I'd love to try the crimson popcorn. Sounds amazing!
    You know I love popcorn, but don't make it that often. I have read about the brown bag attempt, but maybe Ill keep my eye for a glass jar like yours. Thanks!

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  25. EA- to clarify microvwaving is ok just not in the pre-fab bags. Kristin, the glass jars are fantastic- great holiday gift :)

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  26. I always learn something new each time I read one of your posts. I am not a popcorn fan. I am intrigued to try the do-it-yourself variety but it just seems like so much effort!

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  27. I like the DYI - old school. We had a great popcorn popper when I was a kid and I always liked mine with butter and cinnamon. Only question/concern: the GMO thing? Isn't corn generally over-consumed and most of it from Monsanto? Or am I just super paranoid?

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  28. Cameo, no such thing as over-consumed or too much concern. Organic foods are not GM so that's one way to go. If conventional know that only 3 to 5 percent of the sweet corn in the U.S. is GM, and it is very unlikely that popcorn or canned sweet corn are engineered. Hope this helps, great point.

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  29. YAY! I love popcorn. And corn in general, but I always steer clear - thanks for clearing that up.

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  30. I go in phases with popcorn. I love it, eat way too much of it and then can't look at it for a few months lol. I recently discovered Trader Joe's olive oil and sea salt popcorn and it was to die for amazing!

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  31. We love nutritional yeast on our popcorn. Yum!

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