My kids and I love popcorn, but I rarely let them get it when out in public because about 90% of all popcorn that is grown is genetically-modified. We purchase organic popcorn to pop at home in a large Dutch oven. I promised my kids an *extra special* treat this morning, so we made this delicious Salted Milk Chocolate Popcorn.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup organic popcorn kernels
- 1 T coconut oil
- 1 T butter
- 3 ounces quality milk chocolate
- 1 t Fleur de sel or similar salt
Directions:
Step 1 – Place the coconut oil in a large Dutch oven and add three kernels of popcorn to the bottom. Cover with a glass lid, turn to medium, and add the remaining popcorn to the pot when the three kernels pop. Shake the pot every so often so that all kernels pop.
Step 2 – Melt the chocolate in one container and the butter in another.
Step 3 – Toss the melted butter through the popcorn and lay the popcorn on a parchment-covered baking sheet.
Step 4 – Drizzle the milk chocolate over the popcorn. Sprinkle with flaked salt (like fleur de sel).
Step 5 – Place in the refrigerator to chill. When the chocolate has solidified, break into chunks and serve.
Can’t wait to try out the recipe! Chocolate-draped popcorn is the bomb.
One thing you mention in the piece though is your efforts to avoid GMO popcorn. I’m not aware of any popocorn varieties that are GMO. The 90 percent figure is accurate for field corn but popcorn is a different case. I know a few popcorn farmers if you’d like to talk with them…. am sure they could answer your questions.
That’s really interesting, Janice. I have developed an overall fear of corn (sounds ridiculous, right?) so I try my best to buy products that I know are non-GMO Verified. I will definitely have to do some more research into that. Thanks for the feedback.
I don’t think it sounds ridiculous…. there is a lot floating around out there that can lead to fear. I have worked in agriculture for decades, the last several years with Monsanto and try to share what I’ve seen & learned. For me fear is such an unproductive emotion especially when it comes to food but I can understand that given some of the things on the internet it would be easy to do.
If you’d like to check out a popcorn farmer’s blog, I’d highly recommend http://thefarmerslife.com and there are several popcorn farmers on Twitter — tthefarmerslife, zjhunn, cornfedfarmer and huskerfarm all come to mind.
If you’d like to get the perspective of people like me who work with GMOs, there is a website called GMOAnswers.com. I understand you would be skeptical but it may be good to have another point of view to consider.
Now… onto shopping for these ingredients! Panache’s ChoccoPoppo is on my mind and I’m not in Kansas City so I want to give this a shot. Glad I saw the pic on Instagram!
I applaud you Carrie for being aware of the harmful effects of GMOs. While popcorn is not *yet* a commercialized GMO crop it does not change the fact that unless it is organic it was grown using cancer-causing, environmentally destructive chemicals.
90% of commercially grown field and sweet corn is GMO. The US government subsidizes farmers (with Monanto blood money) who grow this disgusting excuse for a crop for things like ethanol and HFCS.
Those of us who are environmentally and health conscious have a word for monsanto employees who scour the web and share their pro-GMO propaganda…Trolls. It is easy to confuse people who are actively trying to educate themselves and the public.
GMO rice was supposed to change the world and end hunger. Failed!
http://gmwatch.org/index.php/news/archive/2014/15250-golden-rice-myth-not-miracle
GMO Cotton was supposed to make Indian farmers rich. FAILED! Instead, farmers are committing suicide “Every 30 minutes” because of the disgrace of failure.
http://permaculturenews.org/2011/12/05/farmer-suicides-rising-in-india-as-gm-bt-cotton-crops-fail/
Monsanto has been responsible for creating Agent Orange, DDT and asparatame. Now that scientists have had time to study those “chemical accomplishments” they have realized that they are deadly.
Bottom line…Even if GMOs where wonderful, the idea is to create a crop to withstand millions of gallons of cancer-causing, toxic pesticides. I prefer to eat my popcorn MINUS the POISON thank you!