The popcorn dance~

A few months ago, we decided to get rid of our microwave oven.  After reading about the dangers of microwaves and trying to make our home a healthier home, we just felt this was best.  However, we all missed our microwave popcorn.  (Which might not be the safest thing for you either.)

We don’t have an air popper anymore but I remember as a little girl that my mom would pop popcorn on the stove top.  So I pulled out my deep pot with a lid and tried it. 

And we all loved it!  Yummy!

It’s very easy to make.  Using a deep pot, we cover the bottom with oil.  (Probably about 3 or so tablespoons)  I put in about 3 kernels of popcorn over medium high heat and wait for one to pop.  Once I  hear the pop, I put in about 1/2 cup (give or take) of popcorn.  Cover with the lid and shake, shake, shake.  (I use a pot holder and hold the top and “scoot” it back and forth across the burner.  And I should note that I have a gas stove and not a real pretty flat top stove that I would be afraid to mess up with all my shaking.)  Once the popping starts, I listen for the pops to slow a bit and turn the fire off.  After waiting a minute or two for the pops to stop, I pour into large bowls and salt the popcorn. 

Sometimes, we add about 1/3 cup of sugar as we add the unpopped kernels into the pot.  This makes a kettle corn that is incredibly good.

The shaking makes a neat little rhythm and I made up a song called the popcorn dance.  While I sing this and dance a bit myself {blush}, the kids gather around and dance & sing in the kitchen too.  Our song goes a little something like this:

Popcorn dance, popcorn dance

Doing the popcorn dance

Popcorn dance, popcorn dance

Doing the popcorn dance

I didn’t say that it was a good song…just that we sing a song!  But it’s all fun.  ;)

And I have pictures of the dance in action too.  I, of course, had my hands full but my 10 year old son grabbed the camera and got a few pictures of his little brother doing the popcorn dance with a popcorn bowl on his head.  (Don’t worry, we washed it before we put popcorn into it.)

And that is the popcorn dance of the Little White House on Pennsylvania Avenue!