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Whether it's an angry god escaping from the kernel as many Native Americans used to believe, or just heat, moisture and pressure building up until the seed pops, popping corn has been for a long time and still is one of America's favorite snacks.
Popcorn in modern North America is primarily seen as a snack and is good with butter and salt, caramel and chocolate, or cheese and jalapeno. However, in earlier days and in other countries, it was a meal. Many had it in a bowl with milk, hot like oatmeal, or ground up and mixed with water. Popcorn has made an impact on people and societies around the globe and its versatility makes it hard to resist.
There are many different ways that different cultures make popcorn. Some let it pop in a microwavable bag, some in a conventional popping corn popper, some in a cast iron skillet, and still others in a wire basket over an open flame. It's good no matter how you toss it. Salt and pepper, butter and oil, flavoring and popcorn seasoning or coated with sugar, caramel, chocolate or marshmallow. This snack is as versatile as it is tasty.
Every year millions of people make new commitments to healthier eating and exercise. Yet few can resist a snack from time to time, and if crunch is your thing, then you may find yourself reaching for processed chips, crackers or coolies. Popping corn is a whole grain and in it's natural form is high in fiber, low in salt and oil, fat free and sugar free. These things combined make it a good snack. However, if you need a little more added, it still has significantly less oil and salt than in say, potato chips.
Would you believe there's an art to making popcorn? The trick is in the amount of heat and the time it's spent in that heat. If you cook popcorn too slowly, the heat and pressure won't build up, the steam will escape from the kernel, and the seed won't pop. If you cook it too quickly, the shell pops before it's ready and the center of the popcorn will be hard.
Few can resist that smell of popping corn. Our human senses are drawn to it. It reminds us of movies, laughter, fun and good times. It can easily be colored, sprinkled, covered, savored, coated and enjoyed. Popcorn gives us so many different options that the hardest part is choosing which type to make tonight.