A Little Bit Of Popcorn

Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved popcorn! My favourite was Butterkist toffee popcorn but I also used to like freshly popped popcorn from the cinema. As the years have gone on, even cinema popcorn doesn't seem to taste so fresh anymore. If anyone here works at the cinema and would like to shed some light on that, feel free to.....

Making popcorn at home is one way to make sure that it's fresh. You can buy pre-flavoured popcorn (normally sweet or salty) in bags that you just chuck in the oven. For more creative control over flavours, you can buy plain popcorn kernals and pop them yourself in a pan. Or you can go one better and get yourself a Heat 'n' Eat Microwave Popcorn Maker*. I was kindly sent this from the team at IWOOT.

This is so simple to use and easy to clean. You simply use the measuring tool to fill your tub with kernels, and then pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. I used an 800W microwave and set the timer for 3 minutes. Et voila! Perfectly popped popcorn and super fresh! No standing by the pan. No messing around with popcorn bags. Just plain popcorn straight from the microwave, and you have full control over how you choose to flavour it. It makes enough for 1-2 people, but you can very easily and quickly make more if you needed to.

I'm more of a sweet rather than savoury person when it comes to popcorn so I decided to pour caramelised sugar onto it. It gives a sweeter taste than typical "sweet" popcorn but it's also not as sickly as toffee can sometimes be.

I can honestly say that this is the best popcorn that I have ever had. It had a lovely warm freshness to it and I could get the sweetness just right for how I like it. The only downside is that I'll probably never want to eat cinema popcorn or supermarket popcorn ever again! Speaking of the cinema, I do love to watch new releases but there's something ever so cosy about getting into my favourite pyjamas, curling up on the sofa, and putting on my favourite DVD. And now I'll even have fresh popcorn to go with it!

I love experimenting with food and I'm very pleased to add this very practical popcorn maker to my kitchen cupboards. Also, if you're trying to be healthy, plain popcorn makes a great snack! You can eat it straight from the sturdy red tub!

The Heat 'n' Eat Microwave Popcorn Maker retails at £14.99, a worthwhile investment for any popcorn lover. Experiment with some different combinations and come up with your own gourmet flavours!

What's your favourite popcorn flavour?

*PR sample.