{"id":6065,"date":"2010-02-05T04:00:44","date_gmt":"2010-02-05T09:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/?p=6065"},"modified":"2010-02-05T08:11:11","modified_gmt":"2010-02-05T13:11:11","slug":"slightly-spicy-super-popcorn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/?p=6065","title":{"rendered":"Slightly Spicy Super Popcorn"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"From

From left to right: Jackson, Michael, and Benjamin at the stove<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
I\u2019m getting ready for Game Day.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
I\u2019m not a football person; I\u2019ve never actually understood the appeal of this particular sport. I get tennis. I get baseball. I get hockey. I even get golf (a good excuse for walking). I especially get bridge. But guys running up and down the field in those huge pads and jumping on each other\u2026?<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Nevertheless, as a lover of popular culture I\u00a0view the\u00a0NFL’s\u00a0big display\u00a0every year. I can\u2019t resist the spectacle of it all\u2014the halftime show, the brand-new ads, the excited if broke fans (the prices on those tickets are scary!).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
I even watch most of the game itself although I try not to listen to the \u201cexperts\u201d as they blather on and on about it.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
I don\u2019t plan a huge menu\u00a0for Super Bowl Sunday, but I do like to make something special in honor of this annual sports fest. I originally thought of making nachos for Sunday. I love nachos: they\u2019re salty and fatty and satisfying and versatile (you can put just about anything you have in the house into them!).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
After looking at the elegant, creative nachos in Wednesday\u2019s Washington Post<\/a><\/em>, however, I abandoned the nacho plan. I didn\u2019t need the shame: my nachos were going to be pedestrian in contrast. And actually my family didn\u2019t need the calories.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Instead I decided to spice up a little popcorn. I love popcorn almost as much as I love nachos. It\u2019s flavorful. It\u2019s cheap. And it can be made with relatively little fat (although I draw the line at air popping;\u00a0the kernels\u00a0need SOME fat).<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
My nephew Michael had a snow day from school on Wednesday so I enlisted him and his friends Benjamin and Jackson to help pop the corn.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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Popcorn is a great project for kids as long as they are careful (which our boys were) and adults are supervising. (I know you can\u2019t see us in the pictures, but there were three of us in the room!)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
I decided to work with Indian spices. The first batch of popcorn\u00a0we tried went a little overboard in the spice department:\u00a0we threw in cumin, turmeric, garam masala, curry powder, paprika, and red pepper flakes as well as salt.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Michael ate one handful and went running through the house shouting \u201cWater! Water!\u201d The other two boys just kept their distance and laughed.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
I tried it myself and found it spicy (although not overly so) and a little too busy in terms of flavors.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
The second batch used the combination of flavors below. Its subcontinental flavor was subtle rather than \u201cin your face\u201d\u2014perfect for young (or timid) football fans. It should complement rather than overwhelm any other munchies we consume as we watch the Saints and the Colts battle it out.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Enjoy the popcorn\u2014and the halftime show\u2014and the commercials. If you must, even enjoy the game!<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\"spicy<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Tinky\u2019s Indian Corn<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Here are a few hints before I start:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Check with your guests about allergies before you make your popcorn. Peanut oil is ideal for popping the corn, but canola will do if someone has a peanut allergy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Popcorn pops best in a cheap, not-too-thick pan. Put away the Le Creuset and the All-Clad if you\u2019re lucky enough to have them and get out an old aluminum pot. By the time the fancy pots heat up the popcorn will burn. A wok with a lid works very nicely.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
The lid should be on your pot (so the popcorn doesn\u2019t pop right out and hit you) but the pot should have a little room to breathe. Keep the lid slightly ajar so that steam can escape. Place one hand on the lid as you shake the pot with the other hand so the lid will stay in position.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
To make your own popcorn salt (I got this hint from watching Alton Brown: thanks, Mr. Brown!) put kosher salt in a small food processor and pulse it 10 to 12 times.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Ingredients:<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
enough peanut or canola oil to line the bottom of your pot (3 to 4 tablespoons)
\n1\/2 teaspoon popcorn salt (a tiny bit more if you must)
\n1 teaspoon cumin seeds
\n1\/2 cup popping corn
\n1\/4 teaspoon turmeric
\n1\/2 teaspoon curry powder<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Instructions:<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Place the oil, the salt, the cumin seeds, and 1 kernel of popcorn in your pot and stir to combine. Put the pot over fairly high heat (see above remark about the lid) and start moving the pot gently back and forth over the burner.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
When the initial popcorn kernel pops add the remaining popcorn, the turmeric, and the curry powder. Stir to combine and return the pot to the heat. Continue shaking. In a little while you will be rewarded with the sound of popping corn.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Listen carefully. (This was the hardest part of the whole recipe for the boys, who have the enthusiasm of youth and like to talk loudly through most activities.)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
When the popping subsides enough so that you hear a pop only every few seconds remove the pot from the heat and pour the popcorn into a bowl.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Serve the popcorn immediately or cool the popcorn and then store it in a sealed plastic bag for up to a week.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Makes just under 2 quarts.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
BY THE WAY<\/strong>, if you’re looking for a few more Super Bowl ideas, here are a few\u00a0suitable posts:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Mexican Chicken Pizza<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Apple-Sage Cheese Spread<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
BOLTs<\/a> (in honor of the COLTs)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Red Beans & Rice<\/a>\u00a0(in honor of the Saints)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\n
Amy’s Super Chili<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Fabulous Fudgy Brownies<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\"(Courtesy

(Courtesy of ebay--I can't afford the darn things myself!)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

If you enjoyed this post, please consider taking out an email subscription to my blog. Just click on the link below!<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Subscribe to In Our Grandmothers’ Kitchens by Email<\/span><\/em><\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 I\u2019m getting ready for Game Day. \u00a0 I\u2019m not a football person; I\u2019ve never actually understood the appeal of this particular sport. I get tennis. I get baseball. I get hockey. I even get golf (a good excuse for walking). I especially get bridge. But guys running up and down the field in those […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[3],"tags":[79,1031,1030,1034,1027,1033,280,1026,1028,1032,1029],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6065"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6065"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6065\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6086,"href":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6065\/revisions\/6086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourgrandmotherskitchens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}