How to pep up your afternoon: Sweet and Spicy Popcorn

Sweet and Spicy Popcorn might just be the perfect snack.

Sweet and Spicy Popcorn is a little sweet, and it’s not too hot, so it adds a little kick to your day without knocking you out. I’ve never made this that there was any left, and this makes a fair amount.

In days gone by, everyone had the Air Poppers for popcorn. They made perfectly horrendous popcorn, making it fairly easy to save some calories by tossing half the recipe. In the old, old days, everyone had a popcorn machine that you added oil and kernels and got a nice tender popcorn with a lot of burnt kernels.

I sort of channel Jiffy Pop when I make popcorn now:

Put 1/4 cup of oil in a large, heavy pan:  think Dutch Oven (affiliate link) over medium high heat, and add 3 or 4 kernels.

Put on the lid, and let it go until they all pop.

Remove the spent kernels and add  2/3 cups of kernels immediately to the pan and cover. Here’s were I channel Jiffy Pop: I shake the pan (using a nice heavy pot holder) once they start to pop. I keep shaking occasionally until the popping stops.

Yep. Popcorn.

Microwaving Popcorn Works too!

For years, I’ve been making my own microwave popcorn: I pour a tablespoon of oil in the bottom of a brown lunch bag, add about 1/3 cup of kernels and fold the bag over a couple of times. If you have a stapler, staple the top – I’m sure there is a magical scientific reason it doesn’t spark. {{shrugs}}

Put the bag in the microwave and cook on high for about two and a half minutes, depending on your microwave. If the popcorn is till popping like crazy, add another 10 seconds or so, but be careful – it burns (and stinks up the microwave) pretty fast.

If you make the popcorn this way, half the seasoning mix. (Or make a couple bags of microwaved popcorn.)

I drizzle butter over the top and sprinkle with the coating mix.

Once it’s tossed in the pot or stirred in the big bowl  (affiliate links follow – see disclaimer page for details) we get to eat. If you have this gorgeous wooden salad bowl (affiliate link), it works great!

Sweet and Spicy Popcorn makes a great after school snack or part of movie night.

It goes wonderfully with drinks too – something about everyone digging into a communal bowl really sparks some camaraderie.

Get popping!