Since we undertook our "real food only" campaign, I've banned snacks like potato chips from the house. My kids haven't minded -- they've just switched to popcorn -- which I don't mind.

Here's my dilemma -- does anyone have any suggestions for toppings? I don't buy margarine (preservatives, artificial colors & flavors, not to mention the GE thing...) and it's keeping me in the poorhouse buying butter to melt for on top (butter here is around $3.29 per pound, and I don't have a cow -- yet!!!)

Any healthy topping suggestions to keep the kids interested in this healthy (and cheap!!) snack would be greatly appreciated!

-- Tracy (trimmer@westzone.com), April 26, 2000

Answers

we pop ours on the stove in olive oil or peanut oil and find it doesn't need anything else but salt. occasionally i will add some grated cheddar cheese for a treat. another treat is kettle corn where i add sugar to the oil before popping...yummy!

-- kristen (kbhansen@msn.com), April 26, 2000.

My husband thinks I'm nuts but I like garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper on mine. I also like parmesan cheese sometimes. It's really good with cold apple juice or cider.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), April 26, 2000.

When I pop corn in oil, I sometimes add about a tablespoon of bacon greese to the oil for flavor. Makes a difference. Someone also suggested to me to use a flavored pan spray such as Pam on the corn when I hot air pop it. When I do melt margarine for a topping, I sometimes add a teaspoon or so of Liquid Smoke for added flavor. And like was suggested, garlic salt and others like hickory.

-- greenbeanman (greenbeanman@ourtownusa.net), April 26, 2000.

My family likes cinnamon/sugar on top. Just pop it in oil, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar and toss. Or, you can use Italian seasoning and pop the corn in olive oil. Packaged taco seasoning is good also, or you could use your own mix. We use grated parmesan cheese occasionally, too. Yummy, and economical> Jan

-- Jan (Janice12@aol.com), April 26, 2000.

The next time you have a 1/2 stick of butter and want a real treat, add the butter to a cup of honey, boil together for 2 or 3 minutes, pour over the popped corn, mix well. If you have too much mixture, it will keep in fridge a long time. It's good. Marilyn's right about the garlic, only I use powder instead of salt.

-- Cindy(IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), April 26, 2000.

Kristen, I would really appreciate your recipe for kettle corn. Have seen it advertised at fairs and swap meets, but never tasted it. Thanks, Jill

-- Jill Faerber (lance1_86404@yahoo.com), April 26, 2000.

My best friend sprinkles brewers yeast over her popcorn. It really is good, plus you get the vitamin B affect. Try it!!!!

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), April 26, 2000.

Well, I'm the only one I've meet who prefers air popped popcorn without any topping. When the mood strikes, I spray it with PAM (or the like) and add a little salt. I've tried just the salt, but it needs something to stick to. Before I discovered the air popper I used to used some of those low-fat butter/cheese sprinkles for baked potatoes.

-- Chris Stogdill (cstogdill@rmci.net), April 27, 2000.

I'm going to get nailed here, but the only way I'll eat popcorn is if I pour so much melted butter on it there's a puddle in the bottom of the bowl. Then I take a couple a pieces at a time and see how much more butter I can get on the things. If I run out of puddle before I run out of popcorn, its Hello Puppies! Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), April 27, 2000.

I pop a pot of popcorn daily for our family. It is economical and a great way to get that salty fix without buying potato chips. We've tried several things. I buy different flavored popcorn seasonings from The Amish Pantry. They are a little on the expensive side, but cheaper and healthier than potato chips. Flavors range from ranch, white cheddar, cheddar, bar-b-Q (our favorite!) and several others. My most recent concern though is that they probably have preservatives in them. Since this is something I was thinking a great deal about just yesterday, I'll do a little hunting today for some homemade spice recipes. It seems like I've run across some somewhere. Also, Sam's sells 50# of popcorn for around $9. They also have a large bottle of butter flavoring and cheese flavoring that I noticed didn't look too expensive. However, I think you would again run into the preservative issue. I've never tried it because I always have my other supplies on hand. And I'm a sucker for the real thing...like Gerbil, my favorite way to each popcorn is saturated in butter! I'll get to work doing a little recipe hunting!

-- Jennifer (KY) (acornfork@hotmail.com), April 27, 2000.

Jennifer, most of the flavorings you mentioned have MSG in them. NOt good, cause of lots of allergies.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), April 28, 2000.

here's the recipe for kettle corn: 2-3 tablespoons of oil, 1/2 cup of unpopped corn, 3 tablespoons white sugar. pop according to your stove-top popper instructions. salt to taste.

-- kristen (kbhansen@msn.com), April 28, 2000.

My husband says he's going to try something similar to the kettle corn, but using maple syrup instead of the white sugar. I guess someone told him he could do it -- seems to me like the syrup might scorch?

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 28, 2000.

I vote for brewers yeast!! Okay I admit I use butter too but the yeast alone gives it a buttery taste. I used to use kelp powder too, but that was in my California days and I havent done that for a while. I agree, popcorn is one of the best and least expensive treats. We eat it all the time, I even put it in my kids packed lunches. Kim

-- kim (fleece@eritter.net), April 28, 2000.

Okay, I still haven't found the ones in my house, but here are some recipes I found online: PESTO POPCORN 3tb Butter Flavored Sprinkles (Would powdered butter work?) 2tb Grated Parmesan Cheese 1t Dried Basil, crushed 1/t Dried parsley flakes, crushed 1/4 t garlic powder

Combine in a small bowl. Give as a gift with upopped popcorn. Store mix in frig. (Holiday cooking 1996)

The following recipes are from www.uniprofoodservice.com

INDIAN CURRY POPCORN 1 T Ground Cardamon 1 T Ground Cumin 1 T Curry Powder 1 1/2 t ground cinnamon 1 1/2 t ground coriander 1 1/2 t salt 1/2 t ground nutmeg 1/8 t ground cloves

MEXICAN POPCORN 1 T chili powder 1 T ground cumin 1 1/2 t paprika 1 1/2 t salt 1 1/2 t crushed dried chilies 3/4 t garlic powder

ITALIAN POPCORN 1 T dried oregano leaves 1 1/2 t dried parsley leaves 1 1/2 t onion salt 3/4 t garlic powder 3/4 t dried basil leaves

Directions for above recipes are to pop pocorn toss with melted butter and desired combinations of seasonings.

CHICKEN LITTLE POPCORN 2 1/2 quarts popped popcorn 1/4 c melted butter 2 envelopes (5.3g) instant chicken flavored broth and seasoning mix (dry) 1 t minced onion 1 t leaf majoram 1 t parsley flakes 1/2 t sage leaves 1/2 t celery seed Put popped popcorn in a large bowl, drizzle butter over it and toss, Combine dry seasonings and add to bowl. Toss well. From The Popcorn Board

Finally, Here is a homemade seasoning mix that I really enjoy. we use it on everything, especially baked chicken. It is very spicy and the next time I make it I will cut the black pepper in half. But here it is... Equal parts of paprika, brown sugar, salt and black pepper. Makes a great barbq seasoning! Now I'll have to get to work trying some of these recipes. If you try them, let us all know how they turn out!

-- Jennifer (acornfork@hotmail.com), April 28, 2000.

I raise chives & garlic chives, I dry the chives. I mix small pieces of garlic chives with popcorn--totally natural, we really like it that way as a change. Sonda

-- Sonda Bruce (sgbruce@birch.net), April 28, 2000.

I found that the toppings sold at spices,etc co. are excellent - I stretch them by combining 1/2 cup nutritional yeast, a few tablespoons of the topping and some garlic and onion powder. The nutritional yeast does cling to the hot popcorn, eliminating the need for butter. I turn it into a shake-type topping by grinding the above in the blender. Judi

-- Judi (ddecaro@snet.net), April 30, 2000.

Does anybody grow their own popcorn and have a favorite variety?

-- Eric Stone (ems@nac.net), May 02, 2000.

Here's a new recipe that I tried over the weekend and it was a big hit! Pizza Flavored Popcorn 2T grated parmesan cheese, 1t garlic powder, 1t Italian herb seasoning, 1t paprika, 1/2 t salt, 1 dash pepper, 2 Qt. hot popcorn. In blender, blend cheese, garlic powder, italian seasoning, paprika, salt and pepper about three minutes or until mixed. Place popcorn in large bowl. Sprinkle with cheese mixture. Toss to coat evenly.

-- Jennifer (KY) (acornfork@hotmail.com), June 06, 2000.

I'm really fond of the pink elephant brand. It always seems a lil stale tho. I would really like to find a 'home-made receipe' to ensure it was extra-fresh. I mean really, what is that pink stuff anyway? All I know is it's hella tasty! yum yum and the kids go ape shit after having a big bowl!

-- Bobby Dee (popnfresh@yahoo.com), September 19, 2001.