Old Maid Popcorn on Purpose

[ChefTessBakeresse]

It's Good to Be an Old Maid...


Seriously, I love a good Ol' Maid!!

My granny used to always get after us..."Stop fighting over the Old Maids...you kids are crazy!!"
I don't know... I just don't know how those crispy little nibblets of popcorn could taste any better on the bottom of the bowl. Know the ones I mean? The ones that have popped slightly and are all crunchy and popcorny (is popcorny a word?). Well, they are my favorite. So much so that a few years back I decided I wanted to make them the main snack instead of residuals to the fluffy stuff. Mind you, I make the fluffy stuff, but I do love a good ol' crispy treat. They are loaded with fiber and down home goodness too. Just the thing on a movie night instead of processed microwave stuff. Though I do sometimes indulge in the micro-cooked too.


Have you ever seen so many ol' cuties together?







These are really hard to make...kidding. Actually they are so easy it seems insane to me that more people don't make them! I think if more folks knew the secret, it would be a staple!
So here's the secret, ready? Soak the popcorn first. 6-8 hours (or overnight...depending on how old the corn is). 2 cups covered in water.Just about an inch over it's head...Drain it after 6-8 hours and pat dry with a towel.

Put popcorn in a covered popper or pan with a lid.
I use one of these whirlie popper gizmos.

It whirls the popcorn so I don't have to keep moving the pot over the burner to move the popcorn.


I put the kernels in the pot with 1T oil.
Get the pan good and hot.
Cook on Medium high.


They will start to pop something awful!!... Crazy sound too. Like my boys playing "army" chucking hot wheels as hand grenades and hitting the walls. EEK. Also good in a survival situation when you want to mimic the sound of heavy artillery.

But the sound is worth the resulting pot of love...

Season however you want. We have done ranch seasoning, cheese powder, Parmesan and garlic, sea salt and pepper...if you put 2T sugar in the pot at the end of cooking, it will be like kettle corn nibbles. I have even gone so far as to stir in a little melted white chocolate. Ouch. Try them. You can thank me later.

[shine]

HOLY cow....this is the answer to prayers, they are my favs!!!!!!

[AZ Prepper]

HOLY cow....this is the answer to prayers, they are my favs!!!!!!

Sweet! Party at shine's house!

[Angela]

Very cool. I want one of those popcorn pots. What is it? Hopefully not something from grandma's house that isn't made anymore . . .

[ChefTessBakeresse]

Called a whirly pop Angela. Also, may need to adjust the soaking time on the corn depending on how old the corn is. Usually overnight is just about right. 6-8 hours is what I get but sometimes 10 depending on the day. lol.