Wanna see something really scary? Go into your local supermarket and look at the ingredients on a box of microwave popcorn! You’ll find partially hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors, and preservatives galore. Even the popcorns flavored only with salt contain oils. Why? I don’t have an answer to that, but I do have a better alternative for you.
Farmer Steve’s Popcorn, available in two types, has absolutely no added oils. This popcorn is organic, so it’s been grown and harvested with the long-term in mind and contains nothing genetically-modified.
Farmer Steve’s Super Pop contains nothing but corn. Add your own spices, chili pepper for example. Right photo by protoflux, Creative Commons.
When it comes to nutrition labels, simple is good. Farmer Steve’s Microwave Popcorn has two ingredients: organic popcorn and salt.
There’s a lot more to like about Farmer Steve’s Popcorn. The Microwave version does contain salt, but it’s a reasonable quantity; you won’t be chugging liquid to try to quench your thirst after you eat it. The Super Pop Kernels, which can be popped on the stovetop or in an air popper, contain nothin’ but corn. Both versions yield a light, fluffy popcorn. There’s no denying that the Microwave popcorn is easiest, but popping corn can be a fun family activity. If your heart is set on buttered or flavored popcorn, you can always make your own, using this popcorn as a base. The advantage is that you control what goes into it, so there are no “junk” ingredients unless you choose to put them in.
Farmer Steve cultivates out the weeds between the rows of young popcorn.
Farmer Steve and one of his fans, Lilly, inspecting a field with the popcorn standing over 5 feet tall.
While no one would claim that popcorn is a major source of nutrition, it does contain a good amount of fiber, and it is a whole grain food. It’s also very comforting, somehow; curling up with freshly-popped popcorn on a cold night, whether you’re by yourself or with someone(s) special, is just a nice thing to do. I always have a box or two of the Microwave popcorn on hand, as it makes a quick, sensible snack when cravings won’t be denied. Whichever type you choose, keep it simple, and try some Farmer Steve’s Popcorn. Check out the (admittedly minimalist) website for more information. You can order online or through the mail; this small business also sells their popcorn is a surprisingly large number of stores, most located in the Eastern part of the U.S.
How to make popcorn the old-fashioned way: heat up oil in a large pot, cover the bottom with kernels, put on lid and wait for popping sounds. The trick is to pour out finished popcorn little by little in order for all the kernels to pop without getting burnt. Photo by banlon1964, Creative Commons.
Learn to make your own popcorn, the old-fashioned way (friends will be thoroughly impressed), you’ll never want to go back to that yucky fake-butter flavor of most Microwave popcorn. Maybe even, instead of buying the overpriced saturated fat-laden ones at the concessions stand, sneak some home-pop into the movie theater next time you go.
Top photo by kozumel, Creative Commons.
