Old Fashioned Kettle Corn - canola oil

Method

• Pour the canola oil into the Whirley-Pop pan.
• Use approximately 1/2 cup, or enough to cover the bottom or the pan without going up the sides.
• Add the popcorn kernels, approximately 1/2 cup, or enough to provide a single layer over the oil in the bottom of the pan.
• Then drop in your pat of butter, about one tablespoon.
• At this point you can close the cover.
• Make sure you have a large bowl next to the stove, and wear an oven mitt on your left hand.
• Put your pan over medium to medium high heat on your stove, and have 1/3 cup of sugar ready.
• Once you hear the FIRST popping sound (this takes about 1-2 minutes), carefully open one side of the pan and drop your sugar in and then push the cover back down.
• Stand back while you do this because that oil is HOT and may splatter.
• Now with your right hand turn the side crank handle pretty steadily until you can no longer turn it.
• This is important so that your sugar and popcorn doesnt burn or stick to the bottom of the pan.
• As it starts to pop and fill up the pan remove from heat.
• Once the popcorn is almost done popping one side of the cover will start to push open from the steam and pressure.
• This is why you need that bowl right there next to the stove ready for you to drop in the hot popcorn.
• I use my oven mitted hand to hold open that side cover and my other hand to shake the popcorn out into the bowl.
• It will be a little sticky from the sugar, so you may need to use a big spatula to help guide it out if it is stuck inside the pan.
• Now season!
• It is important to balance out the sweetness with salt.
• Generously salt the popcorn, add a little pepper and then a few heavy sprinkles of maple sugar.
• You cant really taste the maple but this is the secret ingredient that brings the flavors together.
• If you cant find it locally you can order maple sugar from one of our favorite Vermont producers Sugarbush Farms.
• Toss the popcorn and season again with all three seasonings salt, pepper and maple sugar.
• You may need to use a big spoon to help toss it.
• Once you have seasoned it to taste cover with a clean dish towel and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
• Then eat and enjoy!