Popcorn... gotta have popcorn! Do you like popcorn?
By mentalward
@mentalward (14691)
United States
February 21, 2009 5:25am CST
I've seen like 4 or 5 ads since yesterday for popcorn. The next to last ad had me thinking about getting some. The LAST ad has me craving it! Darn it!!!
I'd love to be able to understand the chemical dynamics of popcorn. What makes the corn kernels "pop" like they do? Have you ever thought about it? Something small, hard and yellow explodes into a white, puffy, light... umm... thing!
Okay, maybe I'm spending WAY too much time thinking about popcorn, but my mind is filled with it right now. No, not literally... well, okay, MAYBE it is. I haven't had a brain scan in awhile now so I can't say for sure.
Do you get cravings for popcorn? You know, that "gotta have it" feeling? Do you have a favorite brand of popcorn? Buttered? Salted? Lite? Extra butter?
How about popcorn flavored with different things like caramel?
Share your popcorn stories, PLEASE, so I don't feel quite so alone in this popcorn obsession I seem to have developed!
10 people like this
48 responses
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
21 Feb 09
I have to say I love popcorn and I was told by my doctor as well as a dietician that popcorn is actually good for you. I especially like the butter lovers the best not that it's probably the best health choice. I don't have a sweet tooth ever so the caramel suff is not my favorite at all. OK now here it is 5AM I can't sleep and now I'm thinking popcorn ^_^ Thanks a lot my friend!!! LOL
2 people like this
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Oh, man! Crunch 'N' Munch! I had completely forgotten about that!!! Thanks muscles... you've done to me what I did to Grandma!
Sorry, Grandma! I truly didn't want to share my current obsession... well, maybe I did... just a little... just so I didn't feel so, umm... alone. 
Isn't it horrible? Popcorn is one of those things that you can totally live without UNTIL someone mentions it OR if you work in an office and someone pops a bag in the company microwave. That smell must travel for miles!!! 
Yep, I know that popcorn is a healthy snack unless you smother it in something totally unhealthy, like real butter (cholesterol) or caramel or things like that.
I prefer mine plain, well, with a little salt... a LITTLE salt. I love potato chips, too, and started buying Lays "lightly salted" chips. Now, I can't stand the regular ones because they're too salty!
Go get yourself some popcorn. It's always good to keep some hidden away in the dark recesses of our kitchen cabinets or pantry! You just never know when that craving is going to hit. LOL
Isn't it horrible? Popcorn is one of those things that you can totally live without UNTIL someone mentions it OR if you work in an office and someone pops a bag in the company microwave. That smell must travel for miles!!!
Yep, I know that popcorn is a healthy snack unless you smother it in something totally unhealthy, like real butter (cholesterol) or caramel or things like that.
I prefer mine plain, well, with a little salt... a LITTLE salt. I love potato chips, too, and started buying Lays "lightly salted" chips. Now, I can't stand the regular ones because they're too salty!
Go get yourself some popcorn. It's always good to keep some hidden away in the dark recesses of our kitchen cabinets or pantry! You just never know when that craving is going to hit. LOL1 person likes this
@Nhey16 (2518)
• Philippines
21 Feb 09
I do love popcorn especially barbecue and cheese flavors when watching movies either in the cinema or at home. I was in the grocery store earlier and I had a glanced at the popcorn stocks but even if I wanted one, I just have to limit myself coz I just feel bloated coz if I started to get one and serve it I just couldn't stop myself after eating it.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Hahahaha! I know exactly what you mean! You just can't eat a handful of popcorn. As long as there's some there, you have to keep scooping it up and shoveling it in.
That's not a bad thing since popcorn IS healthy, unless we smother it with totally unhealthy things like too much butter, too much salt, etc. It's very low in calories and filling so, unless you have to have it floating around in butter or something similar, it's not a bad craving to have.
There's only one bad thing I can think of concerning popcorn... those darned shells getting stuck between my teeth! They can drive you batty! 
That's not a bad thing since popcorn IS healthy, unless we smother it with totally unhealthy things like too much butter, too much salt, etc. It's very low in calories and filling so, unless you have to have it floating around in butter or something similar, it's not a bad craving to have.
There's only one bad thing I can think of concerning popcorn... those darned shells getting stuck between my teeth! They can drive you batty! 1 person likes this
@vicky30 (4766)
• India
21 Feb 09
When i read this discussion i too am thinking about the smell of popcorn
.I like the taste of butter pop corn.If i go to an exhibition near my place.I love to eat pop corn.Once near my college they were selling chocolate popcorn so i ate a pack and it was very nice.Here in India there is a brand act 2.we can make our own popcorn at home in three minutes.
.I like the taste of butter pop corn.If i go to an exhibition near my place.I love to eat pop corn.Once near my college they were selling chocolate popcorn so i ate a pack and it was very nice.Here in India there is a brand act 2.we can make our own popcorn at home in three minutes.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Chocolate popcorn? Oh, geez... now I'm going to have to find me some of that!!! Chocolate goes with everything! Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have Act II popcorn here, too. I prefer a brand called Pop Secret. They seem to pop the biggest and fluffiest. It's a great snack, although I'm convinced that they put something quite addictive in it because one handful is NEVER enough!
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
21 Feb 09
i love popcorn but very seldom ever fix me any. don't even have any in the house right now. i like microwave popcorn but i hate the smell it leaves in the house. a movie is not a movie w/out popcorn.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I've learned to limit the amount of time the bag of popcorn is in the microwave. I'm not sure about all brands, but the kind I buy, Pop Secret, says something like 5 minutes in the microwave. It inevitably burns if it's in that long and I agree with you about THAT smell. It's horrible and hangs around forever!
I put mine in for 3 1/2 minutes, tops. Sure, some kernels don't pop, but it's better than having some of them burnt and the house smelling like burnt popcorn all day!
I agree... gotta have popcorn when watching a movie!
1 person likes this
@Mystic_Dragon (89)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Oh I love popcorn. I, too, have had a craving for popcorn for about 2 weeks now. Then I come in here and see you writing about popcorn. Bad, bad, bad. lol Now I think this is an omen to go to the store and by some popcorn. That crunchy little kernel of corn can indeed be very addictive. I will place the bowl of popcorn on the table and every time I pass by, my hand can't help but reach in and grab. I love it with butter. I scorch my butter just a tad till there is just a light brown color to it and put it on and oh my, oh my, add some salt, and walla, a taste tempting delight to haunt my every waking minute until the last unpopped kernel has been sucked and spit back out. lol
I also make a fantastic peanut butter and chocolate fudge. One day while making the fudge I had an overwhelming thought to dip some popcorn in it. Now I got to tell you, I found Heaven. Now I pop the corn and sift it to rid the leftover seeds and put it in a roasting pan or sheetcake pan. Then I salt it just right. Then I make my fudge up and pour all over the popped kernels of anxiously awaiting kernels and leave set for until it is cool to touch. Then I place in fridge to help it "set" up. About 3 hours later, oh my, drool, drool, I start, drool, to slice into, drool, bars, of my Heavens Delight. My name for my new dessert.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I think my kids (two boys in their 20's) swiped it the last time they visited. Actually, we usually make some popcorn when they come over, at least once a week. My youngest son usually heads right to the cabinet where I keep it and makes it for all of us. Typical of him, I suppose he just forgot to let me know it was the last package of popcorn. 
But, that gives me a chance to really study the popcorn aisle to see what new delights there are to be found there!
I used to have a really good "buddy", a little 7-year-old sweetheart who lived down the street from me. Every weekend, she would come over and we'd do something together, from craftwork to swimming in our pool. Once, while sitting on the "veranda" (our front porch), sipping our cool, refreshing drinks (Hawaiian Punch) and eating our bon bons (popcorn), we started to create a 'popcorn world' where everything was made of popcorn, including the clouds. Ah, we had such fun! What a great memory!
Well, off I go now to see what I can find in the popcorn aisle!
Oh, by the way, I typically don't give out best responses. It's almost impossible to determine who has the best response when they can be so diverse and each is so interesting in their own right. But, when I come upon one like yours, it's very easy for me to choose. @mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I think I've just found my new favorite type of popcorn!
Oh, man! That definitely DOES sound like heaven!!! I'm gonna have to try it. I have fudge mix but just recently (a few minutes ago) found that I HAVE NO POPCORN!!!
So, you won't see me for a little while because I'm going right out and buying some popcorn! Of course, after that, I'll be making some of your 'Heaven's Delight', if you don't mind, of course!
I'd also like to thank you for the most giggles I've had in this discussion! You definitely have a flair for writing! I do hope no one else is offended that I am offering you the best response to this discussion. You've earned it!@Mystic_Dragon (89)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Thank you so much. I feel honored to be awarded the coveted Best Response. I do love to write and this is why I love it here. I am ever so glad that I have found MyLot.
How on earth could you be out of popcorn? Every time I go shopping, whether to buy out the store doing our monthly shopping, or just gone to get milk, popcorn always finds itself in my basket or cart. I think it jumps in on it's own. I can see one day, with all the new technology being introduced, walking into the store, and the bags of popcorn, rather than jumping into my cart, just start popping their little sweet kernels all over and start spreading the popcorn frenzy throughout the store. LOL
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
22 Feb 09
Hey mentalward, I love popcorn, particularly when I watch movies, I remember the first time I had popcorn in a cinema theatre, its price was only 0.15 paise, which is something like 2cents in american currency, but now, the same thing costs Rs.50/ in a multiplex which is equal to 1 american dollor, so I am not able to afford popcorn in the theatres.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Forget the popcorn... I can't even afford to go to the theaters! They cost way too much these days, especially once you add the popcorn, drinks, candy, whatever, to the cost of those tickets!
It's homemade for me! "Dinner and a movie" consists of me cooking something and plopping down on the sofa and watching a good DVD.
@ElicBxn (63233)
• United States
21 Feb 09
there's a tiny bit of moisture in the kernal that comes to the boiling point and explodes and, because the outside is solid, it has to completely blow up (pop) to get out
no, I don't crave popcorn anymore, even the smell now makes me sick, but it was the last corn I gave up when I had to give up corn
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Aww, I'm sorry it does that to you! Well, there should be something in between craving it when you smell it and making you feel sick, like "Oh, somebody has popcorn... so what?" I wonder if there IS such a person!
I think that, if I was forced to give up corn, it would drive me insane to smell it. Luckily, my husband won't eat it so there's little chance that I'd be going insane, at least here in this house... at least not over the smell of popcorn! I might go insane over other things, but not that.
Oh, thanks for helping me to understand the dynamics of popcorn. I thought they were completely dry which is why I couldn't understand why they'd pop. At least THAT mystery is solved! Thanks again!
1 person likes this
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
22 Feb 09
I love popcorn! Especially te buttered popcorn from the movie theater -YUMMY!
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Feb 09
I agree, that is very yummy popcorn! Probably really bad for our health, but oh, so good! LOL
@rychelle314 (285)
•
22 Feb 09
Love all sorts of popcorn. I dont eat it often though, but whenever I crave, I could probably eat a huge tub by myself! :)
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Hahahaha! I agree with ya! Normally, I'm not a habitual popcorn eater. But, after seeing 4 or 5 commercials in one day for the stuff, I craved it! It wouldn't leave me alone until I ate some, and it's so easy to eat a huge tub or bowl of the stuff all by yourself.
I like it when it squeaks when it's chewed. I know that sounds weird, but a freshly popped piece of pop corn sometimes squeaks when you bite down on it.
Don't mind me. I'm very easily amused.
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
21 Feb 09
I LOVE POPCORN!
I love it smothered in butter with lots of salt.
I have it in the cupboard, so I can make it on a whim in the middle of the night if I wish.
Corn is the most versatile thing in the world. I'm sure of it. Just try and list all the things it is used for.
For example, let me try and think of what I use it for:
-popcorn
-animal feed (every animal eats corn, even dogs/cats)
-burn it in our stove to heat our house
-corn on the cob, or in a can or frozen
-frosted flakes cereal
other uses at the top of my head;
-ethanol gasoline
-corn bread
I know there are more, but I'm just on my first coffee yet. The brain can only process so much. LOL
Maybe the kernel is like the microwave, it pops (explodes) because it is sealed and heated and the heat has nowhere to escape.
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
21 Feb 09
OMG! I LOVE Tortilla chips with salsa and Corn Dogs, too. YUMMY!
The only thing I can think of to keep the geese/ducks out of the corn is a netting to cover the corn up on sticks, so you could still walk around under it and it will still get sun and be able to grow. Trust me, they won't touch it until it is perfectly ready to eat. But racoons are an even bigger pest.
Silly thing, I know, but to keep predators and 4 legged pests out of your garden, human urine works very well around the edges.
I know the salt is very attractive to me. I LOVE SALT! And apparently, butter is high in cholesterol, but plain oil is better, like sunflower oil. I don't think Margarine is as bad as butter.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Corn tortillas! Corn dogs! Okay, I can't think of any more right now, either, but you're so very right! It IS extremely versatile.
I'll be growing corn this year. I have early, mid-season and late maturing seeds because I ADORE corn-on-the-cob. I've been thinking of growing 'popcorn', but popcorn is relatively inexpensive anyway so I'll most likely just stick to growing things that have prices which have soared in the past year.
Uh oh, I just realized something... we're inundated with Canadian geese AND Mallard ducks! Geez... I'll have to keep a watchful eye on them so they don't steal my corn when it's ready for harvest! 
It's always a good idea to keep some popcorn in the kitchen for those unexpected "popcorn emergencies"! Just what IS it about popcorn? You can go months without even thinking about it but, once it's in your brain it won't leave until you eat some! 
It's always a good idea to keep some popcorn in the kitchen for those unexpected "popcorn emergencies"! Just what IS it about popcorn? You can go months without even thinking about it but, once it's in your brain it won't leave until you eat some! 1 person likes this
@cndn420 (2062)
• Canada
21 Feb 09
i love popcorn, nice tasty snack!! i know all about those "gotta have it" cravings for popcorn LOL
if i buy a box for home theres no question im choosing the extra butter flavor! when i go to the movies i always buy popcorn and i get the ketchup flavor powder to put on it...it's SOOOOOOOOO good!!!
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Yummmmy... extra butter!!! I totally agree with you on that! Ketchup flavored power? I've never heard of that. Maybe that's because I haven't been inside a movie theater in 15 years or so! (Too expensive!)
Ketchup flavored popcorn. That's a new one to me. Sounds interesting, though. I'm most definitely a ketchup lover!
Okay, experiment happening SOON! I have popcorn, I have ketchup. I'll let you know what I think. (I DO love potato chips dipped in ketchup. People think I'm really weird by doing that, but I don't care! They're missing out on something really yummy! LOL)
1 person likes this
@cndn420 (2062)
• Canada
21 Feb 09
ya movies have gotten too expensive which is one of the reasons why i never go anymore. but yes, ketchup flavor is sooo good, i highly recommend it! LOL i love ketchup chips so the flavor is great for me
dipping chips in ketchup..thats definitely a new one to me LOL
but i do recommend trying the popcorn with the ketchup flavor powder..not sure how great its gonna be with regular ketchup!
enjoy experimenting!!
dipping chips in ketchup..thats definitely a new one to me LOL
but i do recommend trying the popcorn with the ketchup flavor powder..not sure how great its gonna be with regular ketchup!
enjoy experimenting!! @hellsphreak (68)
• United States
22 Feb 09
I will eat popcorn at movie theatres, but I really don't like them much. Sure, they taste good and all, but it's the little annoyances I do not like, such as kernels and bits & pieces getting stuck in my teeth.. Argh!
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Ah, yes. You don't want to bite down on one of those kernels! As for those darned shells getting stuck between your teeth, yeah, a real annoyance, but that's what toothpicks and dental floss were made for. LOL
@Downunder_dude (407)
• Australia
22 Feb 09
Y'know, I really like pop corn, but a few years ago, much to my girlfriend's dismay, I discovered that popcorn has a rather nasty side effect when it comes to me. - I get the worst gas from it lol.
So I like popcorn, but my girlfriend has basically "banned" me from eating it if I'm going to be anywhere near her afterward. :)
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Hahahaha! I've never heard of popcorn giving anyone gas, but I suppose it's true. Corn is high in natural sugars, starch and stuff and is hard to digest. Sometimes, I swear our bodies "reconstitute" corn after we've chewed it up and swallowed it... it seems to come out whole at the other end!
How sad that it gives you gas! Personally, I wouldn't care if it gave me gas. I eat tunafish salad even though I always get a bad headache after eating that! I love it too much to give it up, so I take an aspirin when the inevitable headache arrives.
Of course, I can see it upsetting people who have to be around you if you get gas! That's so sad! Okay, it's funny, but in a sad way. I guess I could live without popcorn but, well, geez, once it gets stuck in your head, it's hard to get it out of there until you eat some! Guess you'll just have to stick to eating it when you'll have time away from your girlfriend, huh? @Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I have popcorn about twice a week. No one else here is crazy about it, but I love it. I do think you are really craving it!! I sure don't think about all that!
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Sounds like my house. I'm the only popcorn eater here. Well, it's just my husband and myself but he won't touch it! He says it gets stuck in his teeth. Well, yeah, anything good MUST have some drawback... isn't that what they created toothpicks for? 
My mind works like that. If something is not all that obvious, I get curious. I know that it's the heat that makes the kernel explode, but going from hard to fluffy in one big POP is strange! Yeah, I'm thinking way too much about this.
My mind works like that. If something is not all that obvious, I get curious. I know that it's the heat that makes the kernel explode, but going from hard to fluffy in one big POP is strange! Yeah, I'm thinking way too much about this.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I've never heard of it, and here I thought I was a popcorn connoisseur! 
My favorite is Pop Secret. They have so many different varieties to choose from, but I typically buy the lightly salted kind. Every now and then, I'll splurge and buy the extra butter kind.
My favorite is Pop Secret. They have so many different varieties to choose from, but I typically buy the lightly salted kind. Every now and then, I'll splurge and buy the extra butter kind. 
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
So true! If I see someone eating popcorn, I want some. If I SMELL popcorn, I want some. Now, it's obvious that those darned TV commercials are having the hoped-for affect on me as well!
My favorite is Pop Secret. I've tried them all. I guess you could call me a "Popcorn Connoisseur". Pop Weaver isn't bad... I'd put that in my number two spot (and I don't mean doo doo).
@mwilliams34 (150)
• Canada
22 Feb 09
yummm popcorn. Its funny you mention this because i made some today :P.My favourite popcorn is the cheese flavored stuff and ketchup is preet good. But my all time favourite pop corn is the popcorn with the movie theater butter. YUMMS!
@markbrauer16 (265)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Yes, I love popcorn when it is made right, and it tastes good.
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
Oh, I agree, it must be made right. There's nothing worse than burned popcorn. Well, okay, maybe there are worse things, but burnt popcorn is definitely up there on the list!
@juliotostado (168)
• Chile
21 Feb 09
Yeah I love Pop Corn, but I don´t have the recipe to do it, I mean for the caramel, it´s supposed to be added after or before the corn is cooked?
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
21 Feb 09
You pop the popcorn first, then add the caramel.
I made 'popcorn balls' one year at Christmas time and hung them from our Christmas tree. It was a year of a serious energy crisis in our country and I decorated entirely without electricity. No lights on the tree so that meant I had to come up with some inventive ways to make it look nice without lights.
The popcorn balls were a bit hit! They rapidly disappeared from the tree, starting Christmas day because everyone was picking them off the tree and eating them.
