Popcorn
Building a fire as the sun sets and making your own freshly popped popcorn is one of the joys of camping. Enjoying campfire popcorn is as much about the preparation as it is eating the finished product. Making popcorn is a good way to introduce your children to campfire cooking and to reinforce the safety precautions that must be taken when you cook over an open fire.
Making the Popcorn
You'll need to start your fire at least a half hour to an hour before you plan to pop your corn. Because cooking will take place over the hot coals, you'll need some time for the wood to burn down enough to create red- or white-hot coals. Putting popcorn directly in the fire is not a good idea, as it can cause too many burned kernels.
If you're really roughing it and want to pop popcorn the old-fashioned way, place an 18-inch length of aluminum foil in the middle of your picnic or camp table. Add a tablespoon of popcorn kernels, a teaspoon of vegetable oil and a little butter and salt, based on your popcorn preferences. Bring the edges of the foil together and seal them tightly. You'll need to make a few popcorn packets if you are serving several people. A long green stick tied to the foil packet makes a convenient handle for your cooking packet. Make sure that the stick is long enough that your hands will be far from the fire while you make the popcorn. A green stick should be used as a handle rather than a dead stick that has fallen on the ground. Dead sticks are too dry and may catch fire as you make your popcorn.
Hold the stick over the fire and shake the packet from time to time to avoid burning the popcorn. You should hear some popping sounds as the popped corn starts to erupt from the kernels. Examine the packet after it has started to expand and remove the popped kernels using a pot holder to avoid burning your fingers. If you prefer a sturdier corn popping system, buy a long-handled corn popper sold at camping supply or sporting goods stores. Load the popcorn and other ingredients in the popper attachment, close it securely and place over the coals.
Jiffy Pop Popcorn
Jiffy Pop Popcorn, the popcorn that comes in a foil package that grows before your eyes when heated, can be used if you are looking for an easy way to make popcorn over a campfire. You'll need to attach a green stick to the Jiffy Pop package to avoid burns. Jiffy Pop can also be made on your camp stove. The popcorn can be found in some grocery stores, although not every store carries it.
Popcorn Flavors
Popcorn cooked over an open fire doesn't have to be dull. A variety of spices and other ingredients can turn your simple campfire snack into a gourmet treat. Try spicing up your popcorn by adding one-third cup of grated parmesan cheese, a half teaspoon of red pepper flakes and a teaspoon of paprika before you begin popping. Mix the popcorn thoroughly after cooking to distribute the ingredients. If you're in the mood for a sweeter snack, mix one-fourth cup of white sugar with your popped popcorn or add butterscotch morsels and almonds to popcorn just after you take it off the coals.
Tags: green stick, make popcorn, your popcorn, avoid burning, Jiffy Popcorn