tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post2128006800679161030..comments2024-02-23T02:03:23.020-07:00Comments on The Eco Cat Lady Speaks: Lessons I Learned from my Popcorn PopperEcoCatLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-5193359073288887822016-04-25T01:06:57.628-06:002016-04-25T01:06:57.628-06:00Ha! So those uber-healthy air poppers really aren&...Ha! So those uber-healthy air poppers really aren't so healthy after all. I knew that something tasting like polystyrene really couldn't be good for you. Take that, plastic gadgets!!!<br /><br />Anyhow, congratulations on your success - you are obviously a more talented microwave charmer than I am!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-37434235345899809792016-04-24T20:38:24.897-06:002016-04-24T20:38:24.897-06:00wow sorry to resurrect an older post/comment threa...wow sorry to resurrect an older post/comment thread but this was so cute to read I really enjoyed it. I just learned today that using a medium glass bowl in the microwave I can make perfect popcorn, easy as heck. I had bought a air popper from Walmart made in China, but it had a warning "Contains chemicals known to cause cancer and birth defects" right inside the box.The Fedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15095355401589637456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-85535883519146408382014-08-12T03:42:30.356-06:002014-08-12T03:42:30.356-06:00Holy Moly... that is quite a system. I think you l...Holy Moly... that is quite a system. I think you lost me with the potato & carrots though - you mix those with the popcorn somehow?<br /><br />Anyhow, I'm glad you've found a system that works for you!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-88575772231475707682014-08-11T17:21:54.306-06:002014-08-11T17:21:54.306-06:00I use a West Bend air popper and get all the kerne...I use a West Bend air popper and get all the kernels popped completely by tilting the unit backward by two inches and have them going out the chute to a large paper bag. Then from a paper bag to an empty plastic ice cream gallon container, add a few pourings of olive oil, a dose of salt. Then pour from this container to the paper bag as not of corn fit to the container. Last step after pouring the mixture of salt, olive oil and corn the bag is folded for slight seal and shakened a few time, and poured back into the container. Added item to go along with this snack is micro-waved potatoe size of a hard ball. The second item a few raw carrott sticks. <br />Lastly, there are times a few kernels do not pop and save these to be soaked in water overnite, and let dry for a day and put back into purchased bag of corn kernels. These kernels do re-pop or as chewable stubs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-24797469827160592602012-09-21T14:03:06.178-06:002012-09-21T14:03:06.178-06:00Wow... I've never heard of putting sugar on po...Wow... I've never heard of putting sugar on popcorn. And sometimes if I overdo it on the butter it does get a bit soggy... but in my book popcorn is really only a vehicle for butter and salt anyhow! :-)<br /><br />But clearly you've got the hand-made popcorn gene - apparently some of us require the fool-proof method!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-49460436143810895542012-09-20T15:08:47.822-06:002012-09-20T15:08:47.822-06:00I always pop on the stove with either canola or su...I always pop on the stove with either canola or sunflower oil. Both seem to work great for me. I think I've even tried olive oil and I didn't mind it. I usually make sweet popcorn. So add the oil, the popcorn, then sprinkle on sugar and salt. I have to shake it a lot so the sugar doesn't burn. I don't add butter. I've tried adding butter but then my popcorn gets wet and soggy. Maybe I'm doing it wrong. <br /><br />And I hate air popped pop corn! I don't remember how I ended up with one of those machines but I gave it away after using it 1 time. Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10777912792843086726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-389773958000440102012-04-07T13:31:20.403-06:002012-04-07T13:31:20.403-06:00Well, actually... CatMan is the butter freak, when...Well, actually... CatMan is the butter freak, when I make it for myself I generally just sprinkle it with a bit of salt, Parmesan cheese, nutritional yeast, and sometimes a bit of garlic powder. Totally delicious! <br /><br />One word of caution... you probably already know this, but if you use olive oil it's best to add it after you pop... trying to pop with olive oil doesn't generally give you good results because it has such a low smoke point.<br /><br />Since I wrote this, I've noticed these stovetop poppers all over the place in the thrift stores, so you can probably pick one up cheap. Happy popping!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-49294472672214898612012-04-07T11:36:25.973-06:002012-04-07T11:36:25.973-06:00Thank you for this. I've been reasonably happ...Thank you for this. I've been reasonably happy with my pot-popped popcorn, but no two pans are the same, and the one that works best is starting to get a singed bottom look that won't go away. I may go looking for one of these gadgets soon! <br /><br />I am trying to reduce dairy so I either use warmed olive oil or earth balance spread on mine. Not as tasty as butter but oddly, I've come to adore the olive oil as a topping. Extra virgin of course. It feels "light".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-8571593566457826082012-02-27T13:33:24.304-07:002012-02-27T13:33:24.304-07:00I am impressed... and I'm sorry. :)I am impressed... and I'm sorry. :)EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-13730423458697411682012-02-26T21:41:48.093-07:002012-02-26T21:41:48.093-07:00I read the entire thing. Funny as hell. Took me a ...I read the entire thing. Funny as hell. Took me a while to find the time to read it, but I read it.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03068855919147458057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-80026959482324567532012-02-17T19:38:55.733-07:002012-02-17T19:38:55.733-07:00I know... I was just lamenting to CatMan that the ...I know... I was just lamenting to CatMan that the only safe thing would be to get a time machine and go back to the 19th century. He laughed and promptly started telling me toxic horror stories from the past. Did you know they used to process radium (which is some radioactive metal) right in downtown Denver?!? And not only that, they actually used the tailings as fill dirt for the streets, so many of the streets in Denver are actually radioactive! <br /><br />I fear there are no "pure moments" in human history!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-14773200894172291762012-02-17T18:42:17.529-07:002012-02-17T18:42:17.529-07:00Ack! First the rubber ducks and now this! I don...Ack! First the rubber ducks and now this! I don't know how much we can really fight it no matter how hard we try, the dangers are in the very air we breathe everyday ::sigh::Marthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12500564300569765406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-4838862412984512682012-02-17T12:20:32.117-07:002012-02-17T12:20:32.117-07:00A-ha! So you're the one!
The way I see it, p...A-ha! So you're the one! <br /><br />The way I see it, popcorn really is just a vehicle for butter anyhow...EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-9939004940661447412012-02-17T12:19:31.094-07:002012-02-17T12:19:31.094-07:00Hmmmm... I think part of the problem may have been...Hmmmm... I think part of the problem may have been my need to produce massive quantities of popcorn... or it could have been the bottle of wine... Well, I'm glad to know at least <i>somebody</i> is actually able to make it the old fashioned way! <br /><br />The power of suggestion is strong isn't it? Remember how I was saying I never crave chocolate? Well, as soon as everybody started blogging about it, chocolate was all I could think about! Plus, I had to make myself a big batch of popcorn to munch on while I wrote this.<br /><br />I think from now on, the only food posts I'm gonna let myself read or write will be about dark leafy green vegetables!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-53742531719939042522012-02-17T11:14:56.482-07:002012-02-17T11:14:56.482-07:00I stand by my air popper, which is made immensely ...I stand by my air popper, which is made immensely better by the stick of real butter I melt over every batch:-)prairiepixienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-49548485480706709572012-02-17T09:58:36.703-07:002012-02-17T09:58:36.703-07:00Ugh, I hate air popped popcorn, too. I think the c...Ugh, I hate air popped popcorn, too. I think the cat might have fun swatting at it since it goes flying all over, but it's way too much effort for crappy popcorn that doesn't taste like anything. I make mine on the stove and really haven't had any issues with it. I have a dedicated popcorn pot -- it's small, stainless steel with a copper bottom. I put in enough kernels to cover the bottom in one layer, drizzle in just enough oil to coat them, put on the lid, set to medium. If I happen to be in the kitchen, I'll give the pot a shake once or twice while the popcorn's popping. I take it off when the popping stops. There are usually a couple of slightly burned pieces near the bottom, but they're easy to avoid. I've even made kettle corn in this pot (it just requires more frequent shaking). <br /><br />Hmm...now I want popcorn.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-86454548717149995362012-02-15T19:40:08.260-07:002012-02-15T19:40:08.260-07:00Hey Emily,
Oh yes! Fix it, fix it fix it! I actua...Hey Emily,<br /><br />Oh yes! Fix it, fix it fix it! I actually didn't even tell the rest of the story because the post was already too long, but our thrift store popper originally had a plastic window in the flap part of the lid, which I accidentally broke trying to tighten the screw on the little wooden handle that you use to lift the flap. But I fashioned a replacement using the lid from an old yogurt tub and some tin foil. My precious popcorn popper shall live forever!!!!<br /><br />And yes, we do have great thrift stores. I've got 4 of them within a few miles radius of my house, and seldom shop any place else!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-85171750482472503292012-02-15T19:12:31.361-07:002012-02-15T19:12:31.361-07:00Lesson #4: Always try to fix something before thro...Lesson #4: Always try to fix something before throwing it out. I wish more Americans tried that one. And yay for thrift stores! Seems like Colorado has better thrift stores than Bozeman. I've found good stuff at the Glenwood Springs one when I'm down there visiting friends. By the way, I love the painting of canary with the gas mask. -EmilyInvisibleUrbanHomesteadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08113847363690063583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-59866894110038176592012-02-15T16:42:24.902-07:002012-02-15T16:42:24.902-07:00I totally appreciate that information (about the a...I totally appreciate that information (about the aluminum and the fact that there's one in stainless steel, haha). Maybe one of these days I'll give it another Whirl (pun intended), ha!Desideratanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-5677522698328962612012-02-15T15:39:13.355-07:002012-02-15T15:39:13.355-07:00Hey Misty,
Well, I was a tad bit paranoid about t...Hey Misty,<br /><br />Well, I was a tad bit paranoid about the aluminum too, especially since Alzheimer's runs in CatMan's family. But, CatMan is much more scientifically grounded than I am, so rather than freaking out (which is my general approach) he does research. Anyhow, we had a rather lengthy discussion about whether it would be safe to use the aluminum popper or not, which involved him siting all of the latest research on both aluminum and Alzheimer's, as well as a lengthy tour through the periodic table. Anyhow, he managed to convince me that it was safe, and since he's the one with the family history of the disease, I figured that was good enough for me.<br /><br />BUT - they do make stainless steel varieties in case you're interested. :)<br /><br />I'm still convinced that plastic and synthetic estrogens are evil though!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-52688673578003628712012-02-15T15:10:40.055-07:002012-02-15T15:10:40.055-07:00First, I LOVE my Roku w/Netflix streaming. Best th...First, I LOVE my Roku w/Netflix streaming. Best thing ever! Second, I am a popcorn freak but I quit using my stovetop popper because it's made from aluminum and I am freaky about eating food that has aluminum "sweating" all over it because my Dad's family is filled with victims of Alzheimers :( I totally agree with your point about moderation - however, I don't have it with popcorn. Sad but true.<br />Third, I read "Slow Death by Rubber Duck" and amazingly it didn't paralyze me with fear, but I just realized I have not eaten tuna since, LOL. I did round out my Pyrex storage bowl collection and largely pitched my ziplocs, and changed from a regular deodorant to a crystal. Come to think of it, I did make quite a few changes after reading that book. Since I'm half convinced plastics are going to kill us all, it was probably not the best reading choice for me ;-)<br /><br />Very glad you found a great way to make good popcorn, and fixed the lid problem!! Enjoy!<br /><br />MistyDesideratanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-62779604676801663952012-02-15T14:01:34.528-07:002012-02-15T14:01:34.528-07:00Air popcorn haters Unite!!! Oh wait, that was the ...Air popcorn haters Unite!!! Oh wait, that was the last post.<br /><br />Hmmmm.... shallow pan, maybe that's the trick. Of course, it could just be that bottle of wine and my inability to perform complex maneuvers in a lubricated state! :)EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-42094062610098290672012-02-15T03:40:14.672-07:002012-02-15T03:40:14.672-07:00My husband bought me one of those pesky air popper...My husband bought me one of those pesky air poppers and i totally hate it. The popcorn tastes awful, like you said and what's more it sprays the stuff all over the kitchen. I'd be finding it in the pot plants months later. So I tried the micro popcorn but it smells so revolting I can't handle it. I've gone back to making it on the stove in an ancient shallow pan with a tight fitting lid so I can give it a good shake while it's popping. Thanks for the grape seed oil hint - I'll try that!Shirlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12111737570056337824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-4842234646266163292012-02-14T20:46:23.083-07:002012-02-14T20:46:23.083-07:00Well, very little of this is worth worrying about ...Well, very little of this is worth worrying about in the grand scheme of things! Just remember, all things in moderation...<br /><br />http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/06/health/main3239379.shtmlEcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7685979597473858413.post-89430689744019285042012-02-14T20:41:15.904-07:002012-02-14T20:41:15.904-07:00Ha! Don't we all!Ha! Don't we all!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.com