Popcorn. It’s more than just a snack. It’s an endless blank canvas for your flavor creations. It’s a memory maker. It’s a movie must-have. It’s my favorite.
Some of my favorite memories involve this delicious snack.
Scene one: It’s Halloween. I’m a first-grader, and we read one of my favorite books. Popcorn! by Frank Asch. An endearing tale about a little bear who throws a Halloween party. Everyone brings popcorn and they pop so much it fills the house. I created a felt storyboard for a school project based on that book. A sweet friend gifted me this book for my birthday this year after I told her about it. I can’t wait to share it with my son.
Scene two: I’m a third-grader and I’ve been waiting years – literally – for my mom to decide I was old enough to watch Jurassic Park. It’s finally happening and my excitement is off the charts. My mom hands me a bowl of buttery delicious popcorn. I’m clutching the bowl so tightly that when T-Rex pops out, kernels go everywhere. My parents chuckle – I don’t even get in trouble for the mess. Friends, this is my favorite movie. I’m sure the memory plays a big part.
Scene three: It’s my first “hang out” with my now-husband. We’re awkward high schoolers. He introduces me to air-popped popcorn. We share a large bowl while watching movies in his parents’ living room. My heart is pounding the entire time.
Scene four: My sister is living on her own in her own apartment. I’m visiting and we decide to have a classic sister-movie-night-in. We pop up movie popcorn and huddle together on her bed to watch something together. She puts hot sauce on her popcorn, and I’m afraid to try it. We laugh and laugh.
Scene five: Game night with friends. They’ve never had it air-popped before. We watch the fluffy kernels spill out of the machine. Our friends get an air popper the next weekend, we’ve converted them.
Scene 6: The new baby is finally asleep. I don’t feel like myself. My husband comes down the stairs to our living room with two glasses of wine and a bowl of popcorn. We snuggle into the giant beanbag to catch up on television while chomping our favorite snack.
Popcorn is the snack that has followed me through my childhood.
I love the sweet memories of sharing it with family and friends; of having a giant communal bowl and coming together for a game night or a movie night. I love the traditional butter and salt flavor, but I also love coming up with new tastes to try. I love that it’s inexpensive and easy. I love the smell of walking into a movie theater and smelling that buttery smell. Have you figured out yet that I just love popcorn?
Beyond the memories, I love making new popcorn recipes. Since air-popping is my favorite way to enjoy popcorn, the options are endless. Pick an oil and a seasoning and go crazy! I’ll share a few of my favorite creations at the bottom of this post.
Now that I’ve shared my popcorn obsession, I’d love to hear yours! Do you prefer it microwaved, air-popped or made on the stovetop? Do you like it sweet or salty? Do you have any great memories that involve popcorn? Let us know!
Popcorn Recipes
Coconut Lime Popcorn:
- Lightly spritz the popcorn with coconut oil (which can be bought as a spray at your local grocery store!). Salt to your preference. Top with either finely-zested lime rind or a squirt of lime juice.
Pizza-licious:
- Lightly toss in olive oil. Top with Italian Seasoning and grated parmesan.
Pakistani-style:
- Mix 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp salt. Lightly toss the kernels in olive oil and sprinkle with the spices. Mix to taste.
Guac-star:
- Toss lightly in avocado oil. Sprinkle with taco seasoning.
