Nothing Says 'Good Wholesome Fun' Like Exploding Carbs
Grow your own popcorn, pop up some fun and exotic snacks, or play with your food and make some crazy popcorn crafts, then settle in for classic movie night!
You think you know all there is to know about popcorn?
Read on...
How to Pop Popcorn with Cell Phones
Truth or Hoax?
If the waves from cell phones can make popcorn kernels pop, as this video shows, don't you have to wonder what your mobile phone might be doing to your brain?!?
But for every YouTube video that shows this amazing trick working... you'll find another one where it doesn't work.
Could it be depending on what brand of cell phone is used? Does the type of popcorn make a difference? Or is it all a fake? You decide whether it's a true story or a hoax...
But for every YouTube video that shows this amazing trick working... you'll find another one where it doesn't work.
Could it be depending on what brand of cell phone is used? Does the type of popcorn make a difference? Or is it all a fake? You decide whether it's a true story or a hoax...
What Makes the Popcorn Pop?
Moisture + Heat = Popped Corn
Popping corn is a type of corn (or maize) which explodes from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Some types of wild corn will pop, but specical varieties of the cultivated strain Zea mays are grown that have a higher rate of popping, and pop to a larger volume.
Here's how it works:
Each kernel of popcorn has a tiny amount of moisture and oil at its starchy heart, inside a strong outer shell that keeps the moisture from escaping.
When we apply heat to popcorn kernels -- by exposing the kernels to very hot air or hot oil -- and bring the temperature inside the corn up past the boiling point, the moisture in the kernel turns into steam. The steam is under a great deal of pressure, trapped inside the moisture-proof hull of the corn.
"Under these conditions," says Wikipedia, "the starch inside the kernel gelatinizes, softening and becoming pliable. The pressure continues to increase until the breaking point of the hull is reached: a pressure of about 135 psi (9.1 atm) and a temperature of 180°C. The hull ruptures rapidly, causing a sudden drop in pressure inside the kernel and a corresponding rapid expansion of the steam, which expands the starch and proteins of the endosperm into an airy foam. As the foam rapidly cools, the starch and protein polymers set into the familiar crispy puff."
In short, popping corn is a bit like the lid blowing off a pressure-cooker, if you forget to lock it down.
Here's how it works:
Each kernel of popcorn has a tiny amount of moisture and oil at its starchy heart, inside a strong outer shell that keeps the moisture from escaping.
When we apply heat to popcorn kernels -- by exposing the kernels to very hot air or hot oil -- and bring the temperature inside the corn up past the boiling point, the moisture in the kernel turns into steam. The steam is under a great deal of pressure, trapped inside the moisture-proof hull of the corn.
"Under these conditions," says Wikipedia, "the starch inside the kernel gelatinizes, softening and becoming pliable. The pressure continues to increase until the breaking point of the hull is reached: a pressure of about 135 psi (9.1 atm) and a temperature of 180°C. The hull ruptures rapidly, causing a sudden drop in pressure inside the kernel and a corresponding rapid expansion of the steam, which expands the starch and proteins of the endosperm into an airy foam. As the foam rapidly cools, the starch and protein polymers set into the familiar crispy puff."
In short, popping corn is a bit like the lid blowing off a pressure-cooker, if you forget to lock it down.
Popcorn Crafts
It's okay to play with your food...
Popcorn can be a good frugal craft material to spark kids imagination. The random bumpy shapes give all kinds of ideas... Can you find a piece of popcorn that looks like a dog? Or one shaped like a face? It's as much fun as cloud-watching!
(Just be careful around the pets and any small children 3 years and younger, as popcorn can be a choking hazard.)
(Just be careful around the pets and any small children 3 years and younger, as popcorn can be a choking hazard.)
- Edible Popcorn Party Bowl
It's a serving dish and it's a snack!- 10 cups popped popcorn
- 1 1/3 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup light corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 10 drops food color, optional
- Free Printable Popcorn Christmas Box
- A simple craft that's quite original: Print out the image on card stock and fold it up to make a charming tree-shaped box with a popcorn garland. Optional: glue on small pieces of popped popcorn over the printed garland to make a 3-D effect!
- Corn Collage Decoration
- Green construction paper, glue, popsicle sticks and popcorn come together into a fun kids' craft for a Thanksgiving or Kwanzaa decoration.
- Free Printable Popcorn Box Coloring Page
- If you've got crayons, you've got fun: here's a free popcorn picture page to print out and color in!
Buttered Popcorn
The Supremes
If you're a big fan of The Supremes, you might recall this catchy song from their "Meet The Supremes" album -- it's "Buttered Popcorn"! This fan-made video combines live footage of a hot-air corn popper in action, some old drive-in snack promos, and still photos of the Motown girl group to illustrate the music recording.
The Supremes - Buttered Popcorn - MUSIC VIDEO
Most casual Supremes fans aren't aware of this pop gem from early in their career..."Buttered Popcorn". Featured on the album "Meet The Supremes", it was released as a single, but not promoted avidly. Apparently Berry Gordy, Jr. felt that this sound didn't reflect how he wanted the public to identify with The Supremes. Florence Ballard is singing lead on this wild number, which has become one of my favorites. I have used some live footage of my hot-air popper, some old drive-in popcorn promos, a few other drive-in foods, and some photos of the Supremes to illustrate the track. Special thanks to Darrell Wright for placing the public domain drive-in clips on the internet! Extra special thanks to mp for educating me on Motown in-depth. I apologize if you're hungry for popcorn after watching this...ENJOY!
National Popcorn Poppin' Month
October is for Popcorn
Did you know? The USA Secretary of Agriculture declared October to be National Popcorn Poppin' Month, back in 1999... Why not celebrate with a kid-pleasing treat of Happy Halloween Mini Popcorn Balls?To celebrate National Popcorn Poppin' Month, too, the National Honey Board presents a bunch of delicious recipes that feature those two tasty and wholesome ingredients — popcorn and honey:
Home-Schooling with Popcorn
Educational Books from Amazon
The Pop Corn Song
Music video for kids
Mr. Kim Webster performs his wildly popular children's hopping song with the help of children, puppets, dog Otis and the editing ability of 10 year old son Eric Webster... while making popcorn!
The Pop Corn Song
Mr. Kim Webster shows his wildly popular children's hopping song with the help of Children, puppets, dog Otis and the editing ability of 10 year old son Eric Webster.
Popcorn Theme Collectibles
eBay
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Popcorn for a Weight-Loss Diet
Air-popped and easy on the butter, popcorn fills you up with low-cal fiber!
Air-popped popcorn is naturally high in fiber, low in calories and fat, and free of sodium and sugar. Unless you're on a no-carb diet, popcorn is a useful low-calorie snack to help you resist temptation on a weight-loss diet.
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, 1 cup of air-popped popcorn, served plain, has 31 calories of food energy, .23g carbohydrates, 1.04g protein, and 1.2g fibre (total dietary fiber).
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, 1 cup of air-popped popcorn, served plain, has 31 calories of food energy, .23g carbohydrates, 1.04g protein, and 1.2g fibre (total dietary fiber).
Grow Your Own Popcorn
A fun family activity that can teach a lesson about where our food comes from, and have some healthy outdoor fun at the same time!
To grow your own popcorn is no harder than growing any other kind of corn — the big trick is to keep the raccoons out of it! — but you do need to plant a specific variety of corn.
Zea mays s. mays, ommonly known as "Flint corn," is a cultivated strain that has been branded under the name of Popcorn. Almost any good seed company will offer the seeds (kernels), which are planted in the spring just like regular corn.
Harvest your popcorn when the cornsilk darkens and the husks begin to turn dry. Strip back the husks and hang the cobs to dry in the sun — makes a lovely decoration, too!
When it's dry, it's ready for popping... or you can keep your popcorn in a cool dry place to enjoy on family movie nights all winter long!
Zea mays s. mays, ommonly known as "Flint corn," is a cultivated strain that has been branded under the name of Popcorn. Almost any good seed company will offer the seeds (kernels), which are planted in the spring just like regular corn.Harvest your popcorn when the cornsilk darkens and the husks begin to turn dry. Strip back the husks and hang the cobs to dry in the sun — makes a lovely decoration, too!
When it's dry, it's ready for popping... or you can keep your popcorn in a cool dry place to enjoy on family movie nights all winter long!
iPhone Popcorn Trick
iPhone Popcorn. iMunchies for iPhone & iPod touch. Download now!
iPhone as a popcorn machine on http://www.hottrixdownload.com download and perform it tonight. Reach right into the screen and start snacking. Half magic trick, half sight-gag iMunchies will be the life of the party. Sneak this one into the movies and save tons! Works on iPod touch and iPhone.
by flycatcher
Flycatcher wanders around the web, looking for tasty tidbits to tempt his appetite for minutiae, and to exercise his eclectic range of interests. Squi... (more)
