The Popcorn Dance
As a little girl one of my favorite snacks was popcorn and lemonade.
My mom would pull out the big wok and my sisters and I would gather at her feet. We had a little ritual we would perform every time she made us popcorn. First, the three of us girls would get down on the kitchen floor and tuck ourselves into little balls. Next, my mom talk us through the oil heating in the pot as we started to wriggle and shake from the imaginary heat. One at a time we would “POP” as our little bodies exploded from the floor. Mom would then pop the real corn and we’d feast from a big bowl covered in nutritional yeast and soy sauce washed down with lemonade from concentrate.
These days popcorn is still one of my favorite snacks, I forego the soy sauce because it makes it soggy but I still eat it with nutritional yeast every time.
The other difference is that I cook my popcorn in coconut oil rather than the vegetable oil of my youth.
I love coconut oil and cook practically everything in it so when Tropical Traditions offered to send me a jar of their virgin coconut oil I was thrilled.
And I got popping.
| Rosemary Popcorn |
- 1.5 teaspoons virgin coconut oil (1 to cook in, 1/2 to top)
- 1-2 teaspoons finely chopped rosemary
- 2 tablespoons organic popcorn
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- salt and pepper to taste
- Heat 1 teaspoon coconut oil and 2-3 kernels of popcorn in a small saucepan with a lid over medium heat
- When you hear the 2-3 testers pop, add the rest of the corn and the rosemary, cover and shake
- Continue shaking intermittently until the popping slows down
- Take off heat, shake a few more times until you don’t hear any more popping
- Remove lid and add 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil, nutritional yeast, and salt and pepper
- Replace lid and shake to coat popcorn (the remaining heat will melt the coconut oil if it’s solid)
- Eat!
Nutritional yeast adds satiating protein and rich flavor to this otherwise starchy and bland snack.
Tropical Traditions virgin coconut oil did beautifully for this purpose, the flavor was mild and delicious, and it earned a spot on my ‘kitchen essentials’ shelf beside the stove.
In case you were wondering, the answer is yes, the popcorn dance ritual is a little awkward when you are 31 and alone in your kitchen on a Tuesday morning. 😉
