Movie Theater Popcorn

Recently I went to the movies with my daughter, Valerie. I hadn't been in awhile so was quite surprised at the $9 price tag. What is it exactly that our $9 gets us? The privilege to occupy an already warm, germ-encrusted seat that someone else has just vacated? A place where our carefully chosen because-they-match-my-outfit shoes are now glued to the floor by Mountain Dew and melted Milk Duds? A chair, if you will, that is either too close to the screen, or directly behind the largest person in the county...who has a cell phone that he refuses to shut off. A phone that he spends the entire movie texting on. A phone, whose light is by far brighter than the North Star. And because he's texting some unknown, but seemingly very important person, he has to have his friend provide a running commentary throughout the entire first half of the flick.

Who doesn't know how to whisper.

Suddenly that movie you couldn't wait to see doesn't seem as appealing as it once was.

The movie people know this though. To keep you from walking out, they hire employees to pop  corn, then turn on fans (They call it "air conditioning".) that blow the scent of freshly popped corn directly up your already cooled nose.

Movie people are a sneaky bunch.

While the movie may not be worth the ticket price, the popcorn sure is. Its scent can entice even the ones who would rather have the red licorice or peanut M&M's.

Just ask my Mister. Movie theater popcorn can render its victims senseless and even though we know that we shouldn't indulge, we do. Then we feel guilty. (Some of the guilt can be attributed to the additional $10 that was just spent at the snack bar!) We may even consider popcorn rehab, but as soon as the sequel, prequel, or anything with Harrison Ford comes out, we're back in line asking for extra butter like the popcorn junkies that we are.

Since I can't afford to see a movie every time the popcorn shakes begin, I've decided to take matters into my own hands.

I'm making my own.

And watching an old guy with a hat, whip, and a quirky, crooked smile jump around like he's still 20.

And for $9, I can watch the DVD 9 times and still afford the snacks.☺

~The Players~

2 Tb. unsalted butter

3 Tb. coconut oil*

2 t. red palm oil*

1 cup organic popcorn kernels*

sea salt

In a 6 quart pot, melt the butter, coconut oil, and palm oil on medium-high.

Add the popcorn. Give it a little shake to evenly distribute it.

Ummm....don't forget the lid.

It could happen.

Once the popcorn starts to pop, give the pot a little shake. Let it pop some more, then shake it again. Do it again, just for kicks.

When the popping slows down to a couple of pops at a time, remove from heat. Carefully remove the lid and sprinkle some sea salt on the popped corn. Turn the corn out into a large bowl and sprinkle with a little more sea salt. Taste and add more salt if needed.

*I use unrefined coconut oil, but if you don't want the coconut essence, opt for the refined version. My favorite is from Tropical Traditions. The red palm oil is from Wilderness Family Naturals, but most health food stores carry different brands. And I always, always, always use organic popcorn to make sure we aren't popping a GMO experiment.