About a month ago, I bought a bag of popcorn kernels and have tried making my own popcorn on a few occasions with it never turning out quite right. I don’t use a microwave so I make the popcorn over the hob; if you don’t get the lid right then the result is either a little burnt and crispy or soggy and undercooked. I know cooking popcorn is not meant to be an art but perfecting it has taken me a little while! I’m glad to say, I’ve finally got it!
Last night, Jack and I headed to the cinema to see Southpaw. Amazing film if you haven’t seen it yet and the acting is simply incredible. I orignally thought Rachel McAdams was the wrong choice for the wife of professional boxer (Jake Gyllenhaal – gorgeous!) but safe to say I was moved from tears to laughter and back to tears throughout. Oscar nomination surely. My reason for mentioning is ever since I was a kid the cinema wasn’t just about the movie; it was about the whole experience. From taking hours to chose the best pick’n’mix to the smell of cooking popcorn, to having your parents pretend the film was over as the curtain closed after the adverts…mine did anyway! Hilarious, I know. Well, now times have changed and of course Pick’n’mix isn’t what I go for but regardless I still love having something to munch throughout the movie – it just doesn’t feel quite the same without it.
Perfect opportunity to make deliciously healthy popcorn! Using only coconut oil and popcorn kernels with your choice of flavouring, it is a FAR healthier and more tasty option than cinema-bought popcorn, which is full of butter and cooked in rancid oils (even if you don’t get the ‘butter’ flavour). I made three different types of healthy popcorn – Smoky Paprika, Sea Salt and my favourite – Honey and Cinnamon. I have a big sweet tooth so the honey and cinnamon flavour is an absolute delight – It takes me back to Winter Wonderland in London and the smell of Christmas! Also, it only consists of 1 tbs of honey, so even though honey is a natural sweetener – you’re still not hitting your body with a lot of sugar. The Sea Salt popcorn is so yummy although my better half ensured I didn’t actually get much of it! It’s a classic popcorn flavour and you simply can’t go wrong with it. Smoky Paprika was a little more out there but I love the flavour of paprika and it’s something different, a little spice and heat but not too overwhelming. It’s perfect for mixing things up.
You can make this healthy popcorn for daily use whether it be the cinema, as a snack for work or for your kids as a healthy alternative with all its natural flavourings.
P.s the real tip to ensure the popcorn is cooked to perfection is leaving the lid of the pan slightly open. If you cover the top of the lid with a kitchen towel the popcorn doesn’t fly all over the kitchen but it allows air to get to the corn so that it doesn’t re-absorb the moisture, as well as keeping the heat in. You also should wait longer than you think for the coconut oil to heat in the pan. If you add the corn kernels too soon they will burn as the temperature isn’t high enough to pop them, but they will still cook. I go into more detail in the instructions below.
Make sure to tag me in your healthy popcorn creations @leanlivinggirl and get experimenting with new flavours!
