HOW TO MAKE STOVETOP POPCORN AT HOME

                       POPCORN RECIPE

Learn how to make popcorn on the stove with step-by-step instructions to help you get back to the basics and how popcorn should be made.

There is nothing better than stewed popcorn. It's been a family favorite for as long as I can remember. I learned to blow popcorn on the stove on my father's knee, which I learned from my father, and so on and so forth. Well, that's not true, while my dad taught me, I don't know where he learned to make popcorn on the stove. All I know is that stewed popcorn is the best.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons coconut oil

1/3 cup high quality popcorn kernels

1 tablespoon butter

Salt to taste

Method

Step 1

Heat oil in a 3 quart saucepan over medium heat. If you are using coconut oil, let all the solid oils melt.

Step 2

Put 3 or 4 popcorn in the oil and cover the pan.

Step 3

When the kernels open, add the remaining 1/3 cup popcorn kernels in a uniform layer. Cover, remove from heat and count for 30 seconds. (Sing loudly; it's fun to do this with children.) This method first heats the oil to the right temperature, then waits 30 seconds, then the rest of the kernels are brought to approximately popping temperature so that when they are reapplied. To put it bluntly, they all pop up at the same time.

Step 4

Return the pan to heat. Popcorn should start popping up soon, and all at once. Once the popping has begun, shake the pan lightly and move it back and forth on the burner. Try to keep the lid slightly clean to allow steam to escape from the popcorn (popcorn will become dry and crisp). Once the popping has slowed down for several seconds between pops, remove the pan from the heat, remove the lid, and immediately throw the popcorn into a large bowl. With this technique, almost all the nuts are loosened, and nothing burns.

Step 5

If you are adding butter, you can now easily melt the butter in an empty, but hot pan. Note that if you let the butter turn a little brown, it will add even more intense, buttery flavor to the butter and your popcorn. (Here's more information about brown butter.) Drizzle only melted butter over popcorn and toss to distribute.

Step 6

(salt as taste)Want something more than butter or salt on your popcorn? Try sprinkling with some grated parmesan cheese! Smoked paprika, nutritional yeast, cayenne pepper powder, taco spice, or curry powder also make fun and interesting toppings.

Have a favorite popcorn topping? Please let us know in the comments.