Disclaimer… this whole post is about our favorite snack, Popcorn! I get a little bit excited about things like this because it’s American History, family, AND snacks!!! Pretty much my favorite things!!
From Cave to Microwave
Popcorn as American snack is over five thousand years old! It’s true! In 1948 a couple of gents (Herbert Dick and Earle Smith) found popped kernels in what is known as the ‘bat cave’ in New Mexico. (Do you have the Batman theme in your head, because I do) When they carbon dated it, the kernels turned out to be 5,600 years old!
Further proof of popcorn has been found in a Pueblo cave in Utah dating back 1,000 years and French explorers encountered it with the Iroquois in the Great Lakes region. They used clay jars and heated sand to pop it.
The Aztecs used popcorn in ceremonial decorating of their clothing and other embellishments.
Kettle Corn
When the colonists arrived, they adopted this tasty snack. Some of them poured a bit of molasses on it making it have a sweet taste. We know this today as Kettle Corn.
Most Popular Snack Ever
By the mid 1800’s popcorn was the most popular snack food. It could be made at home and was at carnivals and general stores. Even during the depression popcorn was popular because it was a snack that most people could still afford.
Today
Today Americans consume about 17 billion quarts of popped corn. I’m pretty sure This Family is responsible for at least a couple of those quarts. It also could be why Snoopy decided to have it as part of his Thanksgiving feast. Smart dog!
How We Popcorn
These days, we make our popcorn in an old fashioned carnival popper. (See picture below) It’s a little more work then microwaving but not much and it’s SO much fun to do with the kids.
Our Love Affair with Popcorn
Years ago Madison Bella got to do a commercial for Jollytime Popcorn! We were thrilled because we are BIG FANS of the Butter Lovers! They were so tickled with her they sent her a case of popcorn afterwards! We enjoyed EVERY SINGLE bit of it!!! Here she is!
We’re big fans of Popcornopolis as well! Our favorites are Cheddar Cheese and Zebra!
Other Ways to Popcorn
Have you ever done Popcorn on an ear of corn? On the stove? How about over a campfire? I think over the years we’ve popped them all, some turning out better then others but every one has been a fun time! How do you popcorn? Let us know below!!
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I love popcorn. I pretty much like it any way it is offered. I would like to find ways to flavor it that don’t make it too mushy – kind of like the professionals do. Very interesting to know that it has been around for that long!
Have you tried popcorn salts or popcorn flavors in shaker form? I like white cheddar a lot but I for sure have to find the unsalted kind. Some of those get a little overwhelming.
I love popcorn! And I love this post! I didn’t know anything about the history of popcorn before this and it was so interesting to read about it. I tried once making popcorn on an ear of corn – emphasis on “tried” because it wasn’t that successful experiment, haha. When making movie popcorn or popcorn for a snack or a treat I stick with the microwave. But one day I want to try all the different popcorn recipes I’ve pinned on one of my Pinterest boards that is only dedicated to popcorn
I love that you have a pinterest dedicated to popcorn! A fast and really easy way is just on the stove with some oil in a pot. The kids always like that too. I’m glad you liked the history part. I make a point to put that in all my posts. I hope you’ll enjoy more of my posts!
I love popcorn!!!!!!!! I have a nostalgic air popper, I use the microwave. My all time favorite is a dutch oven pot that my grandmom had and to this day I still call it the popcorn pot!!
We have an old pot we sometimes use too!!! Popcorn is the best!! So many good memories!!
we pop ours in the microwave. we do it for the dogs mainly now, it is unsalted so my husband don’t want it anymore. The dogs get a snack of it everyday.
Really? The dogs like it? That’s great! I have neve thought to give it to the dogs.. LOL
I LOVE POPCORN! I’ve started making it in paper bags in the microwave — with just a little bit of salt and pepper.
OK that’s fun! I haven’t tried that way before. I’ll do it!
We air pop ours, my boys (almost 2) love to watch! But I want to try the clay jars and heated sand method! Could be a fun family camping adventure gone wrong lol
haha the BEST adventures are the ones that didn’t turn out as planned! LOL Let me know how it goes!! I’ve done a pot on the campfire but not clay…
Fun post! We air pop our popcorn and love to use it to make popcorn balls for Halloween!
OH Yeah! I love those!!!! We used to have them for Christmas. so much fun!