Kettle Corn

Growing up I had an obsession. Kettle Corn. I would beg my mama to buy boxes or bags of it whenever we'd go to the store or we were at a festival. I couldn't get enough of the sweet, salty, and crunchy combo. The best part were the bits of sugar that would settle at the bottom of the bag and I would shamelessly lick it clean.

After I met Mr. Sideline Chef my Kettle Corn addiction came to a screeching halt. Don't know exactly how it happened but it just did. I quit the stuff cold turkey. Maybe it was my determination at losing the 50 pounds I packed on during pregnancy or because I didn't want to embarrass myself licking the bag and my fingers clean. That would be so "unlady like" as my mama liked to often remind me I was. Haha!

One afternoon while itty bitty was napping I was browsing through some recipes and came across Kettle Corn. The flood of memories came back and then I had an immense need to have it. All of the ingredients were in my pantry! Under my nose all along and I had never thought to make it. Had I known how simple it was I'm sure those 40 pounds lost so far would have crept back on.

Itty bitty loves watching the movie, CARS, and we allow him to watch it once a day. I decided to make the Kettle Corn as his snack and let him get cozy with his blanket while he watched the movie.

It only took about 5 minutes to make! After I popped the popcorn kernels in a brown paper bag with a little bit of the oil I sprinkled the sugar and salt over top. It was everything I remembered it to be... habit forming... although not as obsessive as I once was. Thankfully, I finally understand what it means to enjoy things in moderation. Moderation as in every other day.

Why not whip up a batch for your next movie night? Yummy!

Kettle Corn

MyRecipes.com and Southern Living, September 2004

Makes 12 cups

Stars of the Show:

• 1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt

And Action:

For the recipe's original directions, click the Kettle Corn link above.

For individual servings: Add 3 tbsp of unpopped popcorn kernels in a brown paper bag with a little bit of the oil. Roll the top of the bag down a little bit leaving room for the kernels to pop. Place the bag on a microwave safe plate (the oil will seep through the bag) and pop the kernels in the microwave on high until the pops slow to 4 seconds in between. While hot out of the microwave, sprinkle the popcorn with the sugar and salt.

Eat, enjoy, and lick those fingers clean!

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Chocolate-Drizzled Popcorn

My mom provided some of the best childhood memories. Fridays in particular were my favorite days. We would be woke up with our feet being tickled and a laugh to start the day. Mom would send us on our way to school after preparing a warm breakfast and a sack lunch in hand. Mom didn't just send us to school with the run of the mill sack lunch. My sack lunch was true bartering material. Gourmet sandwiches... my mom once sent me to school with a spruced up tuna sandwich on pumpernickel bread... a foodie in the making was born. Sliced fruits, veggies, and then the giant chocolate chip cookies. No sack lunch would be complete without a note from mom as well. It made my day... everyday!

After stepping foot off of the school bus my brother and I would be in a foot race to see who would be first through the door to see what after school snack mom had whipped up for us. Most days the house would smell of roast chicken and vegetables in the oven for our dinner. At that point I could care less about the snack and would instead count down the hours until we were pulling juicy pieces of chicken apart and dunking it into those pan drippings.

The best part of our Friday nights was what followed an hour or so after dinner. Mom would have us hang out in our rooms and get our homework done so that way we could have the entire weekend dedicated to fun. While we were at it mom would be setting up the "party". A large blanket would be spread on the floor, TGIF (remember when ABC network use to have their Friday lineup?), and snacks galore. One of my favorite snacks was the popcorn! Mom would make Jell-O popcorn balls or buttered popcorn. Then we would spend the night watching Full House, Home Improvement, Family Matters, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Boy Meets World, and Hangin' with Mr. Cooper.

Looking forward to our Friday nights made the school weeks go by so much quicker with things to look forward to during the week. Just wait until I tell you more about Wednesday night family workouts and Survivor Thursdays where mom set up immunity challenges for us as a family. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to cast any members off our "island" though.

Itty bitty is only 2 1/2 but I'm already looking forward to carrying on these "traditions" my mom etched in my memory. It's Friday and I made Chocolate -Drizzled Popcorn to celebrate! Best of all it's in the Flat Belly Diet. A sweet ending to the week and beginning of the weekend!

Chocolate-Drizzled Popcorn

Flat Belly Diet Cookbook

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 12 cups air popped popcorn - Easy to do with just a brown paper bag and the kernels!
• 1/2 cup roasted, unsalted, cashews
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

And Action:

Spread the popcorn and cashews on a large baking sheet.

Melt the chocolate in a small bowl over a saucepan of boiling water. Stir often until the chocolate is melted. While the chocolate is still hot use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate over the popcorn in a back and forth motion. Let cool at room temperature for about 20 minutes or until chocolate sets.

Make sure you have a paper towel nearby. Oh hell. Who am I kidding? Lick those babies clean!

Nutritional Information Per Serving:

MUFA: Cashews

Calories: 392

Protein: 7 g

Carbohydrates:  51 g

Fat: 22 g

Saturated Fat: 9 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 9 mg

Fiber: 6 g

Linked this recipe to:


7 days down, 25 to go!!!