Recipe: Homemade Microwave Popcorn

My brother cooks three things exceptionally well: eggs, popcorn and crepes. He’s a 19-year-old college student, so eggs and popcorn make complete sense. I would argue that one could subside on those two things alone. But crepes? Completely out of left field from a kid who considers Devil Dogs a food group. And yet I would never, ever challenge him to crepe throw-down. I’m a painfully sore loser, what can I say. The day he makes gluten free crepes is the day you’ll see them on this blog.

But I may be able to teach him a thing or two about popcorn.

Since we have an air-popper at home in NJ, homemade popcorn was a go-to snack growing up. Not willing to subject our city kitchen to a single-use appliance or my salt-tooth to microwave popcorn, I found an alternative via the wonderful World Wide Web. Apparently, all it takes are a brown lunch bag and some kernels. Guys, whatever you do – do NOT buy microwave popcorn again. This is SO MUCH BETTER. And cheaper. And tastier. And healthier. And kind of cooler, in an, I make my own popcorn, kind of way.

The topping possibilities are endless, though all you really need is a sprinkling of Kosher salt and healthy drizzle of fruity olive oil. Feeling adventurous? Throw on some Sriracha or roasted garlic and report back, please. Though I may beat you to it.

Ingredients/Supplies

¼ cup popcorn kernels

Brown paper lunch bag

Optional Toppings

Extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt

Flavored salt

Flavored olive oil

Old Bay seasoning

Any Italian bread dip seasoning (Terra Momo Fococcia Seasoning is absurdly addictive)

Melted butter

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese and black pepper

Recipe

Pour popcorn kernels into the paper lunch bag. Fold the top of the bag over 3 times (about 1/3 inch each time). To ensure the bag is sealed well, lay flat on the counter and run something over the crease (measuring cup, wooden spoon, etc). Place bag flat on its widest side (seam side up) in the microwave. Cook on high for 2 minutes, or until popping slows. You might have to play around with the time a little bit to get it just right for your microwave, but 2 minutes has always worked like a charm for me.

Remove the bag from the microwave, pour the popcorn into a bowl and top with whatever you’d like!