National Popcorn Day Review

Popcorn Image Source: Pixabay

National Popcorn Day is held each year on January 19, although there is some debate about the date.  Some say it is celebrated on the 'Big Game' day (Superbowl Sunday).  No one knows the origin of this fun holiday, but whoever began the tradition obviously had good taste.

Source: Pixabay

Having recently moved to Iowa where I can drive about 5 miles in any direction and be surrounded by fields of corn, I became interested in learning more about Popcorn Day. 

What is Popcorn?

Source: Pixabay

Popcorn is a seed that does something nifty when heated.

Corny Facts

There are four kinds of corn. The sweet corn we all love in summertime, dent corn (field corn) that is grown mainly for livestock feed and some food products, Flint corn (best known as Indian corn) used mostly for decoration around harvest time, and popcorn, which is a type of flint corn but has it's own unique characteristics.  Popcorn is grown specifically for popping. You cannot pop sweet corn, for instance, and you wouldn't want to eat field corn. 

History of Popcorn

Popcorn dates back thousands of years.  An interesting bit of history can be found on the website Popcorn . org.

Today, Americans consume over 13 billion quarts of popcorn each year, which translates to about 42 quarts per person.  

Image Source: Pixabay

It is one of the most popular snack foods, and an absolute necessity at a movie theater.  Just wouldn't be the same going to a movie without having popcorn! 

Popcorn is also a favorite around holidays, especially Christmas, as a food, as gifts and as decorations.  Who hasn't strung popcorn as a kid to put on the Christmas tree? 

Cute and Clever Popcorn Gifts

Crocheted Popcorn Playfood

Popcorn Playfood on Etsy

This red and white striped popcorn bag with individual kernels of popcorn  hand sewn to the top is a  fun gift to add to your child's collection of playfood for 'pretend' movie time or snack times.  

Hand crocheted by Kyra of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, it can be found in her Etsy Shop called "The Bossy Princess". 

Popcorn Socks

Funny Socks for Popcorn Lovers

These popcorn socks make the perfect gift for any Popcorn Lover!

Cute socks for popcorn lovers created by Wine A Little Gifts on Etsy.

Popcorn Recipes

The Popcorn website has a large variety of popcorn recipes to suit any occasion.  Some delicious-looking recipes are available on the Popcorn website under Recipe Portal.

A Super Bowl Popcorn Snack  

Caramel Pretzel Nut Popcorn

Caramel Pretzel Nut Popcorn Image Source: AllRecipes

This tasty favorite from AllRecipes would be perfect for the upcoming Super Bowl Sunday or for a weekend of watching any favorite televised sport. 

Directions:

Take 8 cups broken salted pretzels, about 20 cups of popped popcorn and 4 cups of dry roasted peanuts and place them all in a large paper bag (or VERY large bowl). 

Meanwhile, combine 3 cups of brown sugar, 3/4 cup light corn syrup and 1-1/2 cups butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook - stirring constantly to melt the butter and dissolve the sugar - until mixture comes to a boil. Continue cooking at full boil for 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in one teaspoon salt, a teaspoon of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. The mixture begins to foam when you add the baking soda, so you need to use a long spoon to stir.  

Immediately pour the sugar mixture over the popcorn, peanuts and pretzels in the bag. Shake until coated evenly. 

Preparing Perfect Popcorn

Stovetop Popcorn Tips:

• Step 1: Pour enough vegetable oil to just cover the bottom of a pan, turn on medium high heat.  Allow pan to warm. The best popping temperature is between 400 and 460 degrees F. Oil burns at 500 degrees. If your oil starts to smoke, it's too hot.
• Step 2: Add enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pan single layer, shake to coat the kernels with oil, and cover with lid (too many kernels will “blow” the lid).
• Step 3: Corn will begin to pop within 3 minutes. When the popping slows, listen until you can count 2 seconds between pops. Turn off heat and remove pan from stove-top.  Lift the lid to allow steam to escape away from your face.  Steam may burn and remaining kernels may continue to pop.
• Step 4: Add additional flavors, herbs, or spices and enjoy.

*If you prefer microwave popcorn for a quickie snack, simply follow the directions on the package.

More Times to Celebrate Popcorn

Source: Pixabay

October is known as National Popcorn Month

(c) National Popcorn Day Review written by Wednesday  Elf 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

FOLLOW US ON: