the glories of popcorn

[Amy Z]

Al wrote:


> The only popcorn you really get here is dreary, cinemabound stuff.  
I 
> notice the difference - the two times I've been Stateside (well, 
once 
> to Canada, once to the US) the popcorn was a million times better, 
> and that was staying with family friends in Etobicoke (Toronto), who 
> last summer whipped up the best popcorn I ever tasted in a couple of 
> minutes.

Oh, that's tragic.  Heather should've brought you all popcorn along 
with the Bisquick (btw, how'd the US biscuit experiment work out?).  I 
know it's a New World item (at least according to US legend, which 
says the Native Americans introduced the Pilgrims to it), but it's 
been 500 years--about time for the Europeans to get a taste.

It is ridiculously easy to make, and very nutritious as snack foods 
go, unless you slather it with melted butter, which is, of course, the 
yummiest way.  All you do is heat a little oil in a big pot, pour in 
1/2 a cup of popcorn kernels, and keep shaking it over pretty high 
heat 'til you don't hear it popping anymore.  The microwave variety is 
also a billion dollar business here in the Land of the Free and the 
Home of the Snack Food.  I eat a mixing bowl full of popcorn about 5 
times a week.

Amy Z