Brown Bag Microwave Popcorn

Popcorn and I have had a very intense relationship over the years-we've had a lot of ups and downs.

For some reason, up until the 2nd grade-I thought I didn't like popcorn. Then, when I tried some, I realized I LOVED popcorn! I began to eat it a lot-a movie theaters, but especially microwave popcorn at my house. Eventually I was up to eating 1 bag of microwave popcorn PER DAY! I was very picky about what kind as well. Act II Butter Lover's Popcorn was the only popcorn for me. In high school, when I was worrying about my weight a bit more, I cut back to only a few bags of popcorn a week. This kept up through my first year of college. Then, in the midst of my 2nd year...something happened. I sort of started to get over it. I began to eat popcorn less and less. I realized movie theater popcorn made me sick, and I was sort of microwave-popcorn'd out. So, me and popcorn took a break. 

While I was shooting in Maine and discovered Michele's popcorn, my love was reawakened, but in a new form, now I'm more into the occasional sweet popcorn (such as caramel corn). 

Recently, I learned that microwave popcorn bags are lined with all kinds of stuff that is bad for you (yeesh I wish I'd known that as a kid). I don't have an air popper. Using oil/skillet/etc. seems messy and complicated.  So I was VERY excited when I learned there's a safe, easy, fat-free way to make popcorn in my own microwave! It's so seriously simple: Take a brown paper bag, put the kernels in (you don't even need oil!), tape it shut, microwave and VOILA! YOU HAVE POPCORN!!

So cool. Just....so cool. 

Brown Bag Microwave Popcorn

From Our Best Bite's "How to: Brown Paper Bag Microwave Popcorn"

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup unpopped popcorn kernels 
• 1 brown paper lunch bag
• tape
• Any seasonings you desire

Preparation:

• Place popcorn kernels in the brown paper bag.
• Fold the bag opening over twice and secure closed with tape. Gently push the air out of the bag.
• Pop on high in microwave for 2 1/2-3 minutes, until you hear 1-2 seconds between pops.
• Remove from microwave and shake gently.
• Carefully open bag (if using scotch tape it may have melted itself onto the bag slightly, no worries).
• Season popcorn as desired! (Or use for a sweet popcorn-such as caramel corn)