from Staffer Aaron Golding
Ah Movie Night. That ancient tradition of families, friends, and couples settling down together to watch a film with a giant bowl of popcorn. Legend has it that Mark Antony and Cleopatra got their cuddle on with a big bowl of hot, buttery popcorn and a movie. Growing up, Friday night was movie night. We used it as an opportunity to come together and bond over a witty Woody Allen flick or a bombastic action film. When I was a teenager, movie night was an excuse to sit real close to a girlfriend in the basement with a bowl of popcorn resting on both of our laps. The reason for movie night might have changed but the one constant has always been the popcorn.
Popcorn is easy enough to make: some oil in a heavy pan with a lid, the heat on high, kernels of corn, time, then a little melted butter, salt, some Parmesan cheese, and boom, popcorn. Looking back on it, sharing handfuls of popcorn out of that steel communal bowl, everyone taking turns and getting along, were some of the tenderest moments of my youth. Sometimes the easiest things are the most magical.
So when Provenance brought in Fireworks Popcorn I was excited to try it, having only had the common popcorn found in most grocery stores. Fireworks Popcorn, based in Northern Wisconsin, is a family- owned company dedicated to producing indigenous varietals of popcorn. All of their all-natural, Native American kernels are GMO-Free and harvested without the use of dyes. The colors of the kernels range from gold to rusty-red to purple. The result is popcorn with delicate hulls and a rich, deep corn flavor. The best thing about popcorn is dressing it up with anything your imagination can come up with. I experimented with melted butter, chopped rosemary and grated Manchego cheese. It was awesome. I'll list a few links below, but I suggest peeking in your spice cabinet and refrigerator and composing some jazz with your ingredients.
Movie-Night-Popcorn has grown up.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/perfect-popcorn-recipe/index.html
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Maple-Pecan-Popcorn-108508
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2010/02/spicy_popcorn_with_piment_despelette_and_marcona_almonds
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Frenchified-Popcorn-107834
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