Popcorn! an old family tip!

This posted before I meant for it to be posted so you will have to put up with a few changes before it ends up the way it was intended too. (don't you love computer glitches?)

We I was a kid our family would often have popcorn on Sunday nights. This was a family tradition way back, and started with my grandma and grandpa my dad's parents. This was also a rare time we could drink "pop" was with popcorn. My grandma and grandpa worked together to make sure every perfectly puffed kernel was coated with just the right amount of butter and salt. They would use a large lightweight pot that had handles on both side. Grandpa would shake and toss the popcorn as grandma poured the butter and sprinkled on the salt.

Grandpa also had a family secret on the best way to pop the corn and had very little unpopped kernels left. I had bought some new to me popcorn from this new Amish Market that opened up near us.

These are very small, tender, hulless, kernels. First you pour in some canola oil, then the amount of popcorn to fill up the oil. I think grandma and grandpa used corn oil back then.

The canola oil can take the high heat pretty well before it starts smoking. I use med high heat, electric is a lot different that the gas stove we grew up using. Heat the oil and corn until the kernels start to get a little pale and just before they start to pop, one might slip out. Shake the pan a little then set in down on burner, then shake, repeat. Once you get to the stage you are looking for, remove the pan from the heat for a minute. Now on put the lid on, it doesn't have to be tight fitting, you don't want too much of the steam created to stay in the pot. Shake and stop, shake and stop, once it starts popping you want to keep shaking so the unpopped kernels go to the bottom so they can pop. Holding it up above the heat when you hear the popping slow down, you can keep shaking above the heat and when it's done set it off the heat, and dump it into a large bowl (or two handled pot like grandma and grandpa did).

In a little stainless steel measuring cup melt the butter. Whiles someone else is shaking the bowl tossing the popcorn drizzle the butter and sprinkle the salt! There you have it!

Perfect popped corn!

With hardly any "old maids" left in the pot!

Perfect with soda as we call it here in Florida!

Enjoy!

Now on to the awards, and boy, is it hard to post this!

First off I want to apologize for the long delay on some of these awards. I don't want to skip anyone, but I'm afraid I probably did. My food blog has given me such joy. It's a place where I can come and share what I have learned and learn so much more from all of you. I can talk about food and cooking without boring anyone. I can't even do that with my co-workers and family members. They just don't understand how exciting it is to find a new seasoning or kitchen gadget, or the joy of just walking around the farmer's market!

Edited: I deleted the photos of the awards just to be safe from copywrite laws.
Many of you have given me awards, some of you are, Anncoo of Anncoo's Hobby , Kristy of My Little Space , Petite Nyonya of A Nyonya's Kitchen , Hana of donuts to delirium , to name a few. Again I apologise if I missed any, I waited too long.
I would love to pass any of these on to my many friends and readers, and here are to a few that I enjoy to follow and read too. Some I didn't note here I knew had already been given this or others had just listed you, I didn't want you all to be overwhelmed. Others I know really don't want it! So let's have fun!
Pru of Perfecting Pru
Lia Chen of Bentolicious
Gulmohar and Nostalgia of Collaborative Curry
Debra of Hapa Bento
Barbara of Moveable Feasts
Sarah of Mum in Bloom ~
Cheah of No-Frills Recipes
Erica of My Colombian Recipes
Pam of Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner
Zia Elle of Uova, zucchero e farina
Martha of Seaside Simplicity - eat, drink, relax, enjoy!
EC of Simple Indian Food- An Easy Cooking Blog
Gloria of Canela Kitchen Recipes
Pikko of Adventures in Bentomaking: Bento Lunches by Pikko
Okay I know I missed many. I want you all to have it all. No pressure here so you don't have to do anything, just enjoy! Thanks for putting up with the mess up, I'm still learning! I hope I got it all right! Enjoy!