Homemade Popcorn

I hope to encourage you to make some homemade classic snacks. They really aren't as difficult and mysterious as they seem.
Popcorn first…
You will need popcorn (raw) it’s usually in bags or jars near the microwave popcorn at any grocery store or stuff-mart.

It’s inexpensive. Generally costing under $2 for a 1 lb bag. From one bag of popcorn you can get probably 10 or more large microwave popcorn bag servings. That’s a guesstimate  I've never actually counted. You can see how much of a money saver it is though, considering that one box of 3 microwave packages costs a dollar at the least expensive place.
You probably already have the rest of what you need. Cooking oil, a 2 quart saucepan and whatever flavoring you like such as salt, butter, Parmesan cheese, etc.


So here’s the instructions: Over Medium heat add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and 3 kernels of popcorn into the pot. Cover the pot with a lid (a clear lid is really handy but not necessary) and wait until those 3 kernels pop. When they do you know that the oil is hot enough to add 1/3 cup of popcorn and replace the lid. Slide the pot back and forth over the burner constantly so that the corn doesn't stick and burn. When you don’t hear popping for 2-3 seconds you know it’s all popped. Have a bowl (or several) ready to pour your popcorn into the lid will have probably lifted off some from all that fresh popcorn so the bottom kernels are at risk of burning if you leave it in the pot.

Toss it with your salt, butter (melt the butter first), cheese whatever you like. There are toppings made specifically for popcorn that you can find in your popcorn aisle.

I think it has so much more flavor than microwave popcorn, and it's a lot more fun to make!

Big Change

   I've changed a lot around this place. I hope you like it! After a lot of consideration I even changed the name. This will be my place to invite you to sit a while and talk. It will never be as good as a sit down conversation but I do hope you enjoy your stay. There are many sides to me (as I'm sure there are to you too) so I will likely change the 'furnishings' again someday.
   Thanks for stopping by!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

I'm sorry for the mess. I'm changing the look of my blog so it's a bit messy at the moment. I hope to have it looking cozy soon.

Autumn Blessings

Fall is here and in full swing!

 

     Every other year my family gathers at the old homestead place to enjoy each other and make applebutter. We have wonderful old traditions and some new ones.

   Family is what it's all about though, they are our greatest earthly treasure.

   Another fall tradition at our house is carving a pumpkin. It's so representative of what God does for us! Did your mind make a sound like screeching tires just then? It's true. You see, like a pumpkin we are full of yucky stuff. Sin. God can remove it, carve a smile on our faces, and fill us with his light to shine in the darkness. We didn't do a smiley face, but the lesson remains the same.

   So often I have more ideas than I can put into practice. Especially when it comes to embroidery design and project completion. I think I have ten or so that are in different stages of execution. This is one that I thought you might enjoy because I'm using a different kind of thread. It's Adelaide's birth announcement.

   I had a difficult time deciding on a color scheme until I spied cotton perle. I chose DMC cotton perle #12 in ecru. Let me break that down for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about. Perle is a kind of thread like floss or yarn. It comes in different sizes represented by numbers. The higher the number the thinner the thread. #12 was the thinnest that I could find. I think it may come in more varied colors in other countries but in America we most often see neutrals, white and ecru. DMC is the company name, it's probably the most well known cotton floss brand here in the states (Anchor is another). Unlike cotton floss perle is not divisible. You don't separate the stands when you use it. You simply unwind a length and use it. It's shiny but not silky if that makes sense. I haven't used it before and I didn't realize that. When I stitched an inch or so and realized how shiny it was I felt like I'd come upon a clearance sale at the craft store if you know what I mean!

1) full thread of cotton floss 2) one strand pulled from a length of cotton floss 3) size 5 perle cotton  4) size 12 perle cotton 5) full skein of cotton floss  6&7)  balls of perle cotton

     

This picture doesn't do it justice but to give you some perspective... Most cross stitch patterns and indeed most embroidery are done in 2-3 strands of cotton floss. The cotton perle that I'm using is just slightly thicker but it's more dense and almost stiff.
   I hope you enjoy you fall as much as we are! Off I go to sew a few stitches.
God bless you.