Question About Popcorn

[Afra]

I used to eat popcorn as a regular snack with my family all the time when I was still young. I still eat popcorn nowadays, but this is a rare practice. I haven't had any popcorn for a month. My question is: popcorn is not really good for you, whether it tastes good or not, is it? My mom was always saying that we shouldn't eat popcorn all day because we can get headaches. My brothers used to be eating popcorn as their only meal on some days when they couldn't afford to buy food at the store and I told my mom about this. I never depend on popcorn for nutrition or anything; I just like it as a snack when I can have it. Can anyone enlighten me here? Thanks so much in advance!

[markdchef]

Popcorn itself is not bad. When you add the oil and toppings that is when it becomes a very bad thing. I use organic Arrowhead mills popcorn in an air popper with a little sea salt and Earth Balance margarine for flavor. I treat it as an occasional snack and not as a meal. Movie popcorn is the worst because they pop it in coconut oil which is a saturated fat and they put a lot of processed salt on it as well as the pseudo-butter product (what's in that stuff?)

There is even a great new snack called gladcorn that is similar to porpcorn (not as puffed up) go to www.gladcorn.com and check it out.

[Afra]

Thanks for that link, Markdchef! I never heard of them before. Looks like a great site to browse around in!

[Kimmie]

Afra, you might enjoy this popcorn recipe. Beware though, it's not for the faint at heart...

Curry Popcorn
Yields: 3 quarts

½ teaspoon, or to your taste, red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cracked black peppercorns
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
½ cup unpopped popcorn

Measure the spices onto a plate and place near the stove. To test for the right heat, pour the oil into a saucepan and add a single kernel of popcorn. Turn the heat to high, and cover the pan. When the kernel pops, quickly pour in the rest and cover the pan again. When the corn really starts popping, hold your breath and rapidly toss in the spices and cover the pan–don't breath in the spice fumes, they'll burn your throat at this point. Keep shaking the covered pan until the popping stops.

Note: Adjust the seasoning to your own taste, since it is definitely spicy.

[Isa]

A regular bag of popcorn at the movies has about 20 grams of fat.

[shroomgirl]

I get several varieties from my farmers...strawberry is a tiny red kernal wiht a brilliant white puff...
anyway I like using olive oil to pop corn with...it gives it a rich flavor elimenating the need for butter.

[Pastachef]

KIMMIE, THAT RECIPE FOR CURRY POPCORN SOUNDS WONDERFUL! CAN'T WAIT TO TRY IT

[Pastachef]

Shroom, I must try your recipe too. If olive oil can accomplish that...I just can't wait to try it. I LOVE popcorn Where can I buy the pink?

[Afra]

What about the popcorn that you pop in the microwave? Is that one of the bad types of popcorn?

[Afra]

By the way, thanks for the popcorn recipes posted here; I hope to try those soon!

[Kimmie]

Thank you Pastachef.

Shroom, do you think my recipe would do well with olive oil?

[shroomgirl]

Would be worth a try Kimmie

[Svadhisthana]

Thanks for the curry popcorn recipe, it sounds dee-lish!

Svadhisthana