Stove popped Popcorn

A couple of weeks ago we found ourselves without power for several days but having a gas stove we counted ourselves lucky that we could go on cooking in the dark. Our favorite recipe from the power outage is definitely old fashioned or stove popped popcorn.  We tried it with a setup based on one by Alton Brown of Good Eats.


This is what you need:

1/4 cup popcorn kernels
2T vegetable oil
1/4-1/2 tsp of popcorn salt.

Sturdy metal bowl with flared sides and isn't too flat on the bottom preferably with a lip.
Aluminum foil
Tongs

Add popcorn, oil and salt to bowl.

Cover with foil and poke some steam vents

Over medium flame you shake the bowl gently back and forth using the tongs to grip it
As the kernels begin to pop you shake it faster and faster until the popping slows down.  Turn off the heat and continue shaking for another
few seconds.

Here is the finished product.  Pour it into a different bowl for eating it.

 After this you may throw out the air popper and stop buying the microwave stuff, but in the timeless words of Reading Rainbow, You don't have to take my word for it.






  








We love it prepared as above, but unable to resist I have begun to experiment with variations.  My favorite variation to date is replacing the vegetable oil with chile oil for a delightful and spicy treat.