Buttered Popcorn

You’ll Need

• Enough olive oil to cover the bottom of a covered saucepan
• About ½ cup popcorn kernels
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• A generous sprinkle of salt

Directions

• In a medium-sized saucepan
• Add the oil until it just barely covers the entire bottom of the pan, and then pour on the popcorn until it forms a single layer. Cover.
• Heat popcorn on medium-high until the first kernels start to pop.
• Shake the pan until the number of pops is less than 1 every 2 seconds.
• Remove to a large serving or mixing bowl.
• Melt the butter in a separate pan or microwave.As you pour the butter over the top in a thin stream, make sure the corn is evenly coated by tossing it around at the same time.

Tricks of the Trade

• To prevent burning the popcorn: once the corn starts popping, hold either side of the pan with pot holders and shuffle it back and forth to the rhythm of whatever song you are listening to.
• This serves a dual purpose.
• It also ensures that all the kernels sift to the bottom to be popped.

Play With Your Food!

• The great part about melting your own butter is that you can infuse it with anything you want, to dress up your popcorn.
• Of course, plain buttered popcorn is wonderful, but you could also sizzle some minced garlic or rosemary. These are particularly wonderful because their oils seep throughout your butter – a little goes a long way – until they spread their mellowness over all the popcorn.
• You might also try just a few crushed walnuts or almonds. Delicious.
• Other suggestions for popcorn include some hard cheese like Parmesan, grated very fine and spread all over after the butter is tossed in.