A trip to the movie theater wouldn’t be the same without it. When we make it at home, we take culinary pride in our high percentage of perfectly popped kernels. Some of us even string it into garlands for holiday decorations. January 19 belongs to us because we understand what Popcorn Day is all about.
Please pass the bowl around as we share yummy reasons why we love this simple snack. Start with almost-instant gratification. You can have it whenever you want it. Add deliciously easy prep. It only takes a few microwave minutes. Finish with guiltless noshing. Popcorn is gluten-free, low-fat, high-fiber and 100% whole grain.
Freshly popped corn brings out the best in our taste for savory, sweet and decadent. It fires up appetites for heat with a dust of cayenne pepper and garlic powder. We toss turtle popcorn with brown sugar, chocolate chips and pecans. We throw diet concerns out the window by drowning fluffy kernels in melted butter.
If you’re inclined to honor Popcorn Day like an Aztec, adorn your favorite ceremonial robes with popped kernels. The edible fashion didn’t last, but popped maize migrated north and became a staple in Native American diets. According to flavorful folklore, it was on the original Thanksgiving table back in 1621. Imagine Pilgrims chowing down on popcorn.
In the early 1900s, candy store owner Charles Cretors’ horse-drawn food trucks served steam-popped corn to folks in Chicago. Credit for crunchy Cracker Jacks goes to Louise Ruckheim’s 1908 concoction of popcorn, peanuts and molasses. Today, Bill Nye and Oprah are just two of countless celebrities who express a deep passion for popcorn.
Let’s commemorate this appetizing day by thinking outside the microwave bag. How about popcorn mixed with crushed dried strawberries and drizzled with melted white chocolate? Bacon crumbles and maple syrup sound sinfully good. The simplicity of olive oil, minced rosemary and freshly grated Parmesan belongs on the menu.
Whatever we come up with, it’s always better when we share. That’s one of our founding principles here at HolidayDispatch, so pass that big, beautiful bowl. Dig in, and fill up on the deliciousness of celebrating Popcorn Day together.