Piggy Pop

Not sure what to do with the leftover bacon grease? Don't waste it! Leave the pan on the stove after breakfast until the afternoon when you're ready for a snack.

Melt some butter in with the grease. Meanwhile, pop some popcorn.

Put popcorn and greasy goodness (plus salt) in a paper bag and shake-shake-shake! I usually drizzle butter a couple cups of popped corn at a time, but you do whatever you like. It's not an exact science. It's popcorn!

Use whatever proportions seem good to you. This is how I did it today: I had the greasy leftovers from 5 pieces of thick-cut bacon. I added a half a tablespoon of butter. I popped 1.5 cups of kernels. It would have been even baconyer if I had done only one cup, I think.

Starbucks fail

I certainly did not have high hopes for Starbucks popcorn. But wow, I can't believe how bad it is.

The butter flavor is butter powder which tastes like old oil. The 1 ounce bag had 8 grams of fat and is 150 calories. For that price I expect ACTUAL butter flavor. Tsk Starbucks. I couldn't even finish it. Yes, me! I know! Popcorn!

Little Lad's not bad

I grabbed a big (they have an even bigger one, too) bag of Little Lad's Herbal Corn at Whole Foods for my train ride this evening. It was the most least caloric and fatty option they sell, so I was sold. The Gouda flavored one sounded divine, but the cheese negates the healthy snack aspect.

The herbs are mystery herbs. But they are pleasant tasting. And there is a good amount of salt, too. One of the 365 brand options was lowfat and low sodium. Dis I say I wanted to avoid bloat? Jeebus. We can't forego everything delicious now.

My only real beef with Little Lad's is the messy factor. My shirt was covered with mystery herbs. And I assure you that I'm a very neat eater.

Would definitely eat again but perhaps not in public.

A brewpub with popcorn?!

I know, right? Such a logical combination and yet so rarely found. More salt consumed = more beer drunk.

I wouldn't say The Shed in Stowe, VT, had the best popcorn or the best beer, but combining the two makes my enjoyment of both increase exponentially.

The popcorn is a serve yourself deal with the ubiquitous faux wooden restaurant salad bowls. Getting my appetizer myself was a plus since the service was lousy and we waited a while to get the food he was in charge of bringing.

The popcorn was yellow and over-salted.

News flash!

Okay, okay! I get it. It's not exactly a revelation that movie theater popcorn is bad for you. But it is good to see it spelled out in black and white.

I wish more chains would make healthier, more delicious popcorn like the indie theaters do. I find it really hard to believe that the movie-going public prefers the overly salted, overly buttered, fake yellow stuff to freshly air popped, lightly salted popcorn.

In the name of science, however, I will keep sampling popcorn sold around the globe.

You're welcome.