Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Polly Popcorn!

Another favourite recipe for the summer, well, any time of the year really is hot butterscotch popcorn!

This is one of my easiest to prepare recipes, so easy in fact that even my youngest prepares it on a semi regular basis and has been for quite some time. As popcorn seems to be popular the world over I thought I'd share how I prepare it with may friends here on Vinca's-In-Tha-Kitchen, especially considering the lengthy conversation about home-made food that took place earlier today. Everyone knows that home-made tastes better, don't they?

Ingredients:
One large heavy bottomed saucepan WITH lid
1 tablespoon of light cooking oil (preferably not olive!)
enough corn kernels to cover the bottom of the saucepan in an even layer, thus making it invisible!


Method:
Heat the oil in the heavy bottomed saucepan on high until it is hot and on the verge of smoking.
Pour in the corn kernels until the bottom of saucepan is covered.
Shake the saucepan vigorously, ensuring that the kernels are covered in hot oil.
Return to heat for a minute or so. Repeat shaking.
Return to heat and cover. Reduce heat to medium and listen for popping noises!
Shake pan vigorously and return to heat. Continue listening and shaking occasionally until all popping noises have stopped.
Remove from heat. Serve.

Serving suggestions:
a shake of salt (low cal serving!)
  1. home made butterscotch
  2. home made toffee sauce

Butterscotch:(double up quantities dep on amount of popcorn made!)
One knob of salted dairy butter
One tablespoon sugar
One tablespoon golden syrup

Toffee Sauce:
One knob of butter
Two tablespoon sugar
Vanilla essence - couple of drops to taste
Pinch of ground cinnamon - 1/4 tsp max

In both cases place all ingredients in a heavy bottomed saucepan and heat until all the sugar crystals have dissolved stirring continuously.
Allow to bubble for a few seconds and pour over freshly made popcorn.
Allow to cool before eating or you WILL burn your mouth or fingers.
Enjoy and do not count the calories!

Speaking of which, I've just enjoyed a small bowl of the butterscotch popcorn that my kids made when they got in from school. Unfortunately, it didn't last long enough to take a picture of my own, and then I wonder why I'm inclined to gain a few pounds here and there!

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