Brown Bag Popcorn

       Until recently I had been eating microwave popcorn as a late night snack, thinking that a non-buttered, lightly salted bag is a healthier, low calorie substitute of chips or crackers. I came across an article on yahoo, "The 7 Foods Experts Won't Eat" which explained how microwave popcorn has harmful chemicals that caused cancer in animals during testing. The chemicals are in the lining of the bag, but when heated, they vaporize and make their way into the popcorn which you eat. Manufacturers have promised to phase out the chemical by 2015, but the bags being sold now until then, and the ones in your cabinet, still contain these chemicals.
       In order to avoid these harmful chemicals, I use an idea that my mom gave me. You could use a popcorn maker, or do it on the stove top, but if you're looking to save some effort and stick to the microwave, this is a great way to do it.

       You can still salt it, season it, and maybe even add some melted butter, and it's going to be way healthier than the bag stuff. And it's nearly just as easy!

      So save yourself from the harmful chemicals of bagged popcorn and also save a bunch of money! Bagged popcorn is way over priced (around 3.50 per pound) and you can make it the brown paper bag way for about 1/7th of the cost! That's some college living if you ask me!

       Try mixing up your topping choices, with some parmesan cheese, or a little bit of cinnamon & sugar, some cumin and chili powder, etc etc!

Brown Bag Popcorn

Ingredients:

Heaping 1/3 cup popcorn kernels

2 tsp olive oil

Salt & seasonings to taste

Melted butter (optional)

Directions:

Mix kernels and olive oil in small bowl. 

Dump into large brown paper lunch bag. Fold the top down and over again, and put in the microwave for about 3 minutes (depending on the power of your microwave) or until the popping slows to 1 pop or so per second. 

Season with salt/seasonings and melted butter if desired.