Ruby's Kettle Corn

I was pregnant with my fourth child and had to go back to work because we were young and poor. I didn't love my job, but I desperately loved the ladies I worked with. One of them was Ruby. She was in her mid 70's and made the kettle corn for the entire office every Friday. I raved about it so much that as my going away gift she went to a local thrift store and found be an old seasoned stir popper. Cleaned it up all nice for me, threw in a gallon sized bag of popcorn kernels and a quart sized bag of sugar. I nearly cried when she gave it to me.

I have replaced that stir popper probably four times since she gave me my first one. I'll link to where you can buy one below. My family STILL makes this kettle corn... all the frickin' time. It's light with a perfect balance between sweet and salty. And it's the perfect snack to send with kids to friends when the pantry is near empty. Always a crowd pleaser.

WEST BEND STIR CRAZY POPCORN POPPER.

Can be found at Target, Walmart and some local grocery stores for around $25

It may burn the first batch or two (or make them smell like plastic) but after that it's great.

We clean our base by hand using soap and water. And then let it air dry completely before using again. Lid we only clean in dishwasher. Kind of a pain to clean by hand with all that sugar stuck on the sides.

Let's Get Started

Ingredients:

2/3 c. unpopped popcorn (I like HEB's Hill Country's yellow popcorn or Walmart's generic)

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

3 Tbsp. white sugar

salt shaker (best with table salt NOT sea salt, kosher salt or popcorn salt)

Stir Crazy Popper - 6 qt size

Directions:

Don't turn on popper yet.

FIRST:

• pour oil in popper

• sprinkle sugar on oil

• add unpopped kernels

Have LARGE popcorn bowl and salt ready. Turn on popper with lid in place. Let cook until kernels fill up lid, and kernel pops start to slow down.  The popcorn's ready!

To avoid burning, do this next part quickly right when the popcorn's done:

• unplug popper.

• flip the whole popper over, so the lid is on the bottom.

• remove the hot black popper bottom and set aside.

Pour 1/2 the popcorn in a bowl while hot and sprinkle HEAVILY with salt... think you have enough salt? Add more :)  Pour in the other half and sprinkle heavily with salt.  Toss a little and enjoy :)