Homegrown Popcorn
Jon and I grew our own popcorn this year. I still can’t quite believe it. Popcorn has always seemed to me to be one of those foods that magically appears, pre-buttered, salted and slightly stale, in movie theaters and microwaves without ever having grown in the earth.
That said, I really wanted to grow corn this year and I decided on popcorn, because I figured it wouldn’t be a huge loss if the popcorn didn’t work out. But with a little hand-pollinating on our part, it did work out!
On a bright, dry day in September, Jon and I cut down the corn stalks growing next to our front porch and twisted off the little ears of corn. We carefully peeled back the papery husks on one particularly fat, promising ear and discovered that our first attempt at growing popcorn was a success—ruby colored kernels lined the cob!
We gathered the stalks into bundles and tied them to the porch—instant, free fall decoration—and then brought the ears indoors to dry.
It took a solid eight weeks until the kernels were hard, dry, and loose on the cob, but they were finally ready for their test pop. I removed the seeds one by one from a large ear, which yielded about 1/3 cup, while Jon got out our WhirlyPop pan, butter, and salt.
We put the popcorn into the WhirlyPop with a bit of oil, shut the lid, and then stood over the stove waiting. And waiting. And then suddenly…Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! I jumped up and down. Our popcorn that we grew right outside our front door was popping!
I’ve been scouring the internet for popcorn recipes (caramel corn, anyone?), and we’re planning on stuffing our family’s stockings with little packets of homegrown popcorn this Christmas. I’m also on the hunt for some ideas on what to do with all the leftover husks. They’re so pretty, I can’t bear to put them into the compost!
Growing popcorn ended up being one of the best things that happened in my garden this year. Next summer I cannot wait to try the heirloom variety ‘Two-Inch Strawberry’—it’s super cute and it pops, a quality that I now value when it comes to corn.
For tips on growing corn in a small space, click here.
Where’s the photo of the popped corn? (and the dog begging for bits to be thrown for him to catch?) Speaking of Domino…did he tell you about our Thanksgiving party? I think he had fun!
December 15th, 2009 at 10:46 amgardenmentor´s last blog ..Harvest for the Hungry Frozen for Winter
Beautiful! About those husks…one of my favorite tree ornaments from my childhood is a corn husk angel. Sweet little face, and all made from corn husks. I bet if you google “corn husk angel”….
December 15th, 2009 at 10:52 amYou could always make a wreath or garland out of them. But of course corn husk dolls are the most traditional.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:36 amDaphne´s last blog ..Seeds in Need of a Good Home
That’s awesome! I too never really considered popcorn as a crop one could grow on her own. doesn’t it just spring forth ready-packed from the popcorn factory? Well done.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:47 pmAs for recipes, once I tried truffle oil popcorn, I’ve hard a hard time making it any other way.
GardenMentor–I did hear that Domino spent Thanksgiving with you. I hope he didn’t beg too much. I know those big brown eyes are hard to resist.
Lelo and Daphne–I just dug up a cute corn husk wreath:
http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/2009/10/14/how-to-make-a-corn-husk-wreath/
and some totally terrifying corn husk angels. Eek!
http://www.hgtv.com/holidays-occasions/corn-shuck-angels-add-a-rustic-touch-to-christmas/index.html
Talley–I’m totally going to invest in some truffle oil popcorn. yum! yum! yum!
December 15th, 2009 at 1:02 pmOrangette just put up a caramel corn recipe…sounds great.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:37 pmSO FUN!!! I want to grow popcorn!!! Molly just posted a great looking recipe for caramel popcorn on Orangette. Have fun
December 15th, 2009 at 8:37 pmchassie´s last blog ..Caution All Pedestrians
I always love spicy popcorn. I don’t really have a recipe but have played around with tossing in various dried spices with the butter while the corn is popping. Sometimes when I’m lazy I just dump hot sauce on top, the trade off of course being the occasional soggy kernel, but the flavor can’t be beat. Well maybe the flavor can be beat, actually, because truffle oil popcorn sounds incredible! Totally going to try it next time I stay in for a movie.
December 16th, 2009 at 9:06 amMo & Chassie–Oh my, that caramel corn sounds so, so, so good! I think I’m going to have whip up a batch tonight.
Leigh–I’ve been thinking about spicy popcorn! We picked up this crazy good chile powder in New Mexico over Thanksgiving and it would be so yummy in butter!
December 16th, 2009 at 2:57 pmYay Popcorn! I’ve been wanting to grow some too. I plant corn every year with very little success though. Any tips?
December 16th, 2009 at 7:50 pmThat is SO cool! What variety of popcorn was it that you grew this year? Was it a protected area that got better-than-usual Seattle sun?
December 17th, 2009 at 10:50 amYou might want to look up a good green chili and cheese tamale recipe and use your not quite so pretty husks for the tamales. I have also seen where the corn was popped while it was still on the cob. What color were the popped kernels?
December 18th, 2009 at 4:05 pmThat’s some beautiful corn!
Here’s a caramel corn recipe I made a while ago:
http://urbanalocalfood.blogspot.com/2007/09/caramel-corn.html
Also, I’ve made bread with popcorn flour, but you probably want the popcorn to be the star of the show…
December 18th, 2009 at 7:41 pmEric´s last blog ..peanut butter rum balls
This looks so tasty! I love the idea that popcorn can also be in the locavore diet. It is one of my favorite things to eat.
Spicy popcorn is a favorite of mine as well. I sprinkle a healthy dose of cayenne pepper, and any other spice which strikes my fancy, directly into the olive oil with the kernels. This helps the flavor distribute evenly, and gives it a toastiness.
I also enjoy it with a combo of tumeric and curry powder…tasty, warming, aesthetically pleasing. But it does turn your fingers yellow.
For a sweet version, I add honey in with the oil. This tastes amazing and has a nice texture, but you do have to be veeerrrry careful not to scorch the pan!!!!
Eric….did you grind your own popcorn flour??? Yum.
January 12th, 2010 at 6:40 pmJeanell´s last blog ..Kitchen Medicine
Jeanell, I ground the popped corn, not the hard kernels–that would’ve been impressive. I just did it in a food processor…but watch out, the fluffy flour goes everywhere. My attempt was to “lighten up” the dense 100% whole wheat bread I was eating during my month of 99% local eating. The popcorn bread was pretty good.
January 13th, 2010 at 9:14 amEric´s last blog ..red clover sprouts
Heather–I heated up my soil before planting and pre-sprouted my seeds. Worked like a charm! Here’s my post about it:
http://www.digginfood.com/2009/06/corn-growing-tips/
LadyPeeJay–As per usual I didn’t record which variety I grew. I do remember it was from Territorial Seeds…
Eric–Caramel Corn made with sorghum molasses sounds totally amazing. Thanks for answering Jeanell’s question about making flour.
Jeanell–I’m totally trying your honey idea. It never would of occurred to me to add it in with the oil. How much do you use? Like a 1/4 cup?
January 13th, 2010 at 1:59 pmEric–Sorry for the delayed reply….and thanks so much for the clarification on the popcorn bread! I passed that along to a gluten-free friend who is always looking for ways to lighten up heavy things like buckwheat bread, and I would like to try it myself as well! It never occurred to me that you could used popped corn. My roommates have a hand-grain-grinder from Lehman’s that will actually grind whole popcorn kernels, so I assumed that’s what you were doing. Love the creativity!
Willi–I almost never measure anything no matter what I’m doing, but my basic popcorn proportions are to cover the bottom of the pan with kernels, one layer, and then cover that with oil so it spreads evenly just a little below the level of the kernels. Then I drizzle honey as evenly as I can over that…maybe a 3 parts oil to 1 part honey…hope that helps…it’s different every time!
January 18th, 2010 at 12:28 pmJeanell´s last blog ..Local AND Vegan: Can it be done?
Thanks for the directions, Jeanelle! I’m totally going to try honey popcorn. I just bought a bunch of honey yesterday for another recipe!
January 19th, 2010 at 1:10 pm