So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Monday, January 5, 2009

How to Pop Healthy Popcorn With a Hot Air Popper

By Tom Fischer

Air popped popcorn is one of the healthiest snacks to choose for the overall snack craving. Not only is it tasty and can be seasoned to meet any craving, but it contains practically no saturated fat, cholesterol or sodium at all, and it is also a great (and tasty) source of dietary fiber and manganese.

What it the method of making Air Popped Popcorn?

To make air popped popcorn, you will be needing a hot air popper. Its a small, 12 inch tall machine that comes in a number of shapes nowadays. All hot air poppers have a kettle, where you add the kernels.

Once the hot air popper is turned on, it circullarly revolves hot air in the kettle, which sends the kernels on a wild ride around the side of the kettle. The circulating hot air heats every single kernel, which eventually pops as it would if you were using an oil popper. As more and more corn start to pop, they are literally shot through the spout of the air popper into a serving bowl you need to prepare beforehand.

And the best part is that once the kernels have popped, you can decide on the flavoring you want to add, meaning that your unique, seasoned to taste popcorn will satisfy any craving. The most popular, quick-prepare seasonings are:

- nutritional yeast (makes it taste like cheese!)

- onion powder

- onion powder

- chili powder

- sugar and cinnamon (2 teaspoons cinnamon per 1/3 cup sugar)

Air popper machines usually pop almost every kernel in under 3 minutes, making the popping process very efficient. Air poppers are very inexpensive as well, a Presto hot air popper costs around $20. You can get great looking vintage style air poppers nowadays as well for as low as $40.

You will see that natural popcorn kernels are much cheaper than microwave popcorn bags as well, so not only is it lighter on your wallet, its much healthier as well. Natural popcorn kernels can be found at any grocery store, usually right next to the microwave popcorn bags, so have a look for yourself! This is one of the very few instances, where a food thats good for you will be cheaper than the "artificial" version.

Nutrition facts on air popped popcorn (1 serving = 1 cup or 8 g)

- 31 calories

- 0g saturated fat

- ZERO cholesterol

- 1 mg sodium

Air popcorn maker safety advice:

- Hot unpopped kernels can shoot out through the spout while they are still being circulated with hot air, so standing directly in front of the air popper while the corn is still popping is not advisable.

- Hot air emitted by the popcorn popper can cause skin burn.

- It is advisable not to use bowls made of metal as serving bowls, since metal heats up rapidly under the emitted hot air. If you do use a metal bowl, let it cool off for a minute after you turn the popper's power off.

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