Thyme and Parmesan Popcorn
Driving home in the rain today, I brightened considerably when I realized that it's January. January means one thing around this house: American Idol. And American Idol means popcorn.
It's been a popcorn kind of vacation. The kids and I have eaten a lot of it while Yancey's been at the fire station--for lunch, for dinner, for snack. I usually prefer the following: white kernels, popped in a little bit of vegetable oil in a heavy saucepan. Little bit of melted butter, lots of kosher salt. Sometimes with a beer if I'm being bad; seltzer water otherwise. Does it get any better than that?
As it happens, yes. It does get better than that. Fresh thyme, lemon zest, parmesan from a can, garlic powder, butter, and kosher salt. Wyatt went to bed the other night, then came back out into the kitchen while I was eating this. I heartlessly sent him back to bed. The next night, I let him stay up late with Yancey and I. He hung his little head over the bowl, complimenting me and my popcorn up and down, and alive to the pleasures of staying up with Mom and Dad. Reminds me of a Jane Kenyon poem I love. This poem is a little sad, and I know my kids have zillions more moments alone with me than Jane (or most people of her generation) ever did. Certainly I don't expect my children to appreciate these popcorn moments now--their job is just to eat. Someday, though, I wouldn't mind if Wyatt remembered this night fondly. I know I will.
Drawing from the Past
(Jane Kenyon)
Only Mama and I were at home.
We ate tomato sandwiches
with sweeps of mayonnaise
on indifferent white bread.
Surely it was September,
my older brother at school.
The tomatoes were fragrant
and richly red, perhaps the last
before frost.
I was alert to the joy of eating
sandwiches alone with Mama, bare
feet braced on the underpinnings
of the abraded kitchen table.
Once I'd made a mark in the wood
by pressing too hard as I traced
the outline of a horse.
I was no good at drawing--from life,
or from imagination. My brother
was good at it, and I was alert
to that, too.
Thyme for Cheese Popcorn
Pop a bunch of white popcorn kernels in your usual way. If you're a microwave popcorn kind of person, make sure you use the kind with no additives or flavorings. Dump the popcorn into a big bowl and drizzle melted butter over it. Chop a bunch of fresh thyme (I must have used at least 2 big tablespoons). Scatter thyme over popcorn, shake a bunch of dried parmesan from a can, and sprinkle some garlic powder to taste. Finely zest half a lemon over the top (this is where microplanes really shine) and finish with some kosher salt, tasting first to see how salty the cheese made things. Enjoy by yourself in front of the TV or with your young son who will appreciate you more someday.
January 4, 2010
Reader Comments (13)
Sounds fabulous! It might be a popcorn-dinner kind of night fo rme, too! :)
My husband is a fire fighter and our son lives on popcorn when dad is on duty. My son's defense is that the popcorn is a vegetable so it cant be unhealthy to have it for three meals a day! Gotta love it! I can't wait to try this variation!
This sounds divine! It's been far too long since I popped up some popcorn on the stove!
i've discovered that there are "popcorn families" and "non-popcorn families." i came from the latter, but want to be the former with my own children. so, while most people are trying to cut down on their popcorn intake, i am trying to remember to make it! funny, but true. this is a good reminder. love the poem, sad but poignant. a good reminder to make time for the things that seem insignificant at the moment. and LOVE that american idol is coming back.
I need more popcorn in my life. I have never made the "real" stuff! Just microwave. I know, I know. I'm a little afraid because, being a savory lover, I'm not sure I would be able to stop eating it once I start.
After years of eating popcorn with lime and seasoned salt, it's so nice to see someone else who does "crazy" toppings on her popcorn. And popcorn for dinner? It IS a whole grain, after all. Enjoy it!
I know what I am making Friday night! This is going to add some excitement to my family's austerity campaign of eating home!
You had me at American Idol but then you added popcorn and now I am convinced we might be kindred spirits after all. I usually just make mine with way too much butter. My motto is what is popcorn for if not only just yet another way to get to the butter!! Yours sounds much healthier for the heart and savory. I will have to give it a try.
Yum, this looks amazing.
ohhh...i would eat these by the bowlfuls. perfect blend of flavors, in addition to american idol!
Such a good idea-- yum. Will definitely try it for our next snack dinner, or perhaps right now. I once had amazing popcorn with beer yeast on it.
I recently stumbled across your blog and love it! I made this last night and it was delicious. The lemon zest really did it for me:)!
How come no one addresses the actual topic here : LEFTOVER popcorn? We always have left over popcorn from the movies and from the stuff we cook at home. (Two of us can't always finish a whole batch.) Ziplock bags only do just so well and if it isn't eaten in a matter of hours, it gets soggy and chewy. We need ways to make leftover popcorn edible so it doesn't have to go out to the birds or on the compost pile. Any ideas?