Popcorn

Mmmm...popcorn! Who doesn't love it?

But what a bunch of waste! Depending on the size of the bag and how hungry you are, one bag of microwave popcorn is about enough for 1-4 people. Then you throw out the bag.

Contrast this to a 1-2 pound bag of old-fashioned popcorn kernels. One dinky little bag contains enough popcorn to keep a large family happy throughout an entire film festival, and then some. And in many locations, the bag is recyclable.

Although popping your own has become a lost art, it's simple enough for a 12-year-old to master. All you need is a heavy-bottomed pot with a lid, some oil and unpopped corn. Pour a couple tablespoons of oil into the pot, follow with a single layer of popcorn kernels, and set it on medium high. Don't forget the lid.

You can let it rest for a few minutes while the oil heats up. But as soon as you hear popping, it's time to shake, rattle & roll! Shake your booty (and the pot, too) until the wild popping dies down.

Making a big production out of the shaking is part of the fun. Your kids will probably want to join in on the "popcorn dance." (And it's even more fun if you have a glass-lidded pot. Just make sure they don't fall off the chair in the excitement of watching the little yellow kernels explode into tender, fluffy white morsels.)

It may take a little practice before you get it just right, but when you do, don't be surprised if popcorn becomes a nightly ritual (don't forget to top it with real butter - there will be plenty of residual heat left in the pan to melt it!)

And guess what - you won't even have to feel guilty about the bag!