I love popcorn....

Sounds like a "corny" post, I know. Lately I've been having blogger block. Although things are happening, I just don't have the words or energy to post about them lately.

So my comeback post is a about popcorn, so bear with me.

I grew up having popcorn as a snack, in the evenings, with my Mom & Dad. Watching my favorite sit-coms in the 70's & 80's. I still love popcorn at anytime and for any reason. Ask my kids, my hubby, the neighbor kids, and anyone else that has been offered a snack at my house. My Mom doesn't care much for my choice of popcorn, as she thinks it needs butter. My "flavor fav" is Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop Kettle Korn. Kind of blah to those that like the Movie Theater Butter Flavor.

Popcorn at the movie theater (and a high school basketball game) is a necessity. Not a luxury. Much to the dismay of Mr B. If I have to choose between dinner & popcorn with the movie. The popcorn would win. No butter though. I don't like soggy popcorn. Nor the kind that burns my lips because there is too much salt. Which brings me to Target's "value meal" of popcorn & a beverage. Used to be $1 + tax, but it has gone up to a little more than that now. Sometimes they go a little nuts on the salt, which breaks my heart, as I just cannot finish it. Wasting popcorn is just not in my genes. Nothing beats shopping & Target with popcorn or sitting in the pick-up line at school, with.....popcorn.

Even when I worked the 7pm - 7am night shift as a nurse, I had popcorn around 3 am. Which brough many funny looks & wrinkled up noses from my co-workers. I tried to keep my smell to the break room & was VERY careful to never burn it. They were interested in their cup of coffee & bacon & eggs, when the early morning sleepies set in. Not me. It was like 3pm to me. An afternoon snack.

Here's a little trivial pursuit knowledge for you. Obvious to many, is that popcorn was first discovered by the Native Americans. They thought the popping noise that escaped the kernel, was that of an angry god. During the Great Depression, popcorn was comparatively cheap and while other businesses failed the popcorn business thrived and became a source of income for some struggling farmers.

There are currently 6 localities in the United States that claim to be the "Popcorn Capital of the World". Schaller, Iowa being one of them. Consolidated Popcorn, which packaged Jolly Time brands, once employed more than 30 workers at its plant in Schaller. The plant, now named American Popcorn Co., only employs a handful of workers, but still collects corn from farmers and test-pop varieties three times per week. Keeping with their claim, the town of Schaller (population 779), still has their annual Popcorn Days. Complete with parade, bingo, popcorn queen, & you guessed it.....free popcorn !

I think I may have to plan my next trip home to Iowa, to include the popcorn days. Conveniently located, about half-way between my hometown & Mr B's hometown.

Until next time.....thanks for "popping in"..... groan.