Who doesn’t love popcorn? Ancient Peruvians were eating the fluffy white stuff as long ago as 4700 BCE…at least, according to Wikipedia. Modern Americans, for their part, each consume 52 quarts of popped kernels per year. It’s little wonder, then, that recipes have popped up all over the web (all puns intended, of course).
Sweet, savory, upscale, nothing-but-the-corn: they’re all there. If you visit High Point Events on Pinterest, you’ll notice that we have a popular board called “Got Popcorn?” which features more than 50 recipes – and the board is growing on a daily basis.
One of the best tips we’ve learned from Pinterest is that we don’t need to buy microwave ready bags. Recently, there have been some concerns raised about the chemicals which provide that buttery flavor, so it was great to discover that you can make your own chemical-free microwave popcorn with a paper lunch bag. Put a quarter cup of popping corn into the bag and fold the top over twice. Put the bag on its side in the microwave, and set the timer for 2 minutes. (Depending on your microwave, it may take a little less – listen for the pops to be more than five seconds apart.) Pour the popcorn into a big bowl and top with a little butter and salt or whatever strikes your fancy.
For a party, think about the fun your guests will have with a DIY popcorn bar. Provide them with bowls of fresh, hot popcorn, and an assortment of toppings – things like M&Ms, garlic salt, dill weed, spray butter, cinnamon sugar, chocolate chips, mixed nuts, olive oil, Old Bay Seasoning. Use your imagination and enjoy. (And don’t forget to put out the toothpicks!)