Pop your corn over these!

Jazz up plain popcorn for a tasty snack.

Chilli-cheese popcorn

Combine 6 cups freshly air-popped popcorn with 1 tablespoon melted reduced-fat spread, 2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon ground sweet paprika, 1/2 teaspoon dried chilli flakes and 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley.

Herb ‘n’ spice popcorn

Combine 6 cups freshly air-popped popcorn with 1 tablespoon melted reduced-fat spread, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon brown sugar and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley and chives).

Choc-sesame popcorn

Place 1/3 cup light condensed milk and 1 tablespoon cocoa powder in a saucepan. Cook, stirring, until mixture comes to the boil. Add 6 cups freshly air-popped popcorn and 2 teaspoons sesame seeds then spread onto baking tray to set. Once set, serve.

Popcorn trail mix

Combine 3 cups freshly air-popped popcorn with 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds, 1/4 cup craisins, 1/3 cup roughly chopped unsalted nuts (such as cashews or almonds) and 2 tablespoons shredded coconut.

NOTE: 60g popping corn kernels makes 6 cups air-popped popcorn.

Pop(corn) quizz

Question 1: A kernel of popcorn contains just a small amount of water. The shell of the kernel does not allow water to soak through. So when these kernels are heated, the water turns to what? (And it’s this build-up that makes the kernels ‘pop’.)

Question 2: Often when you’ve popped your popcorn kernels, there are still unpopped kernels left behind. What are these called?

Question 3: About how many popcorn kernels are there in one cup of unpopped popcorn?

ANSWERS

1. The water turns into steam
2. Spinsters or old maids
3. About 1600