popcorn is my favorite food.

i make it when i’m on my own for dinner, i make it for lunch when i’m home sick on the couch watching law & order marathons, i buy it & a diet coke for $1.50 at target when i’m running errands on my lunch break, & tom uses it to bribe persuade me to go to movies i have no interest in seeing.

there’s nothing i love more than a bucket of buttery theater popcorn, but we all know that isn’t an everyday kind of food.  so, for more regular consumption, this has become my absolute favorite.never in a million years would i have thought to add dijon mustard to butter & pour it over popcorn, but that’s why i think heidi swanson is amazingly talented, because this works.  the butter is just enough keeping this from becoming an overly indulgent snack & i love the hint of tang that comes from the mustard so much so, that i add quite a bit more than the original recipe.  finish it off with a sprinkling of sea salt & fresh chives & it is snacking perfection.

DIJON BUTTERED POPCORN
makes about 8 cups popped corn

1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1 1/2 tablespoons butter (the quality of the butter will make a difference here.  we like to use salted kerrygold.)
1-2 tablespoons dijon mustard
generous pinch sea salt
1/2 bunch fresh chives, minced

set a medium, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. drizzle with enough olive oil to thoroughly coat the bottom of the pan, about 1-2 tablespoons. drop in a few popcorn kernels.

while letting those few kernels heat up, add butter to a small saucepan & set over medium heat. let it sizzle, get foamy & turn a bit brown. whisk in the mustard, taste & add more mustard, if necessary.  set aside.

when the popcorn kernels pop, add enough to cover the bottom of the pan, about 1/2 cup. cover & let pop, shaking the pan occasionally, until the pot fills up, or the popping slows to about 3 seconds betweens each pop. transfer to a large bowl.

drizzle about 1/2 of the butter & dijon mixture over the top of the popcorn & toss to coat. sprinkle with salt to taste. add remaining butter & dijon mixture, sprinkle with chives, toss once more & serve.

adapted from super natural every day