Popcorn

I don't know about you, but popcorn is one of my favorite foods! I grew up eating popcorn and milk for dinner on Saturday nights. Back then, we popped the corn in a little oil in a 3 quart sauce pan. Whenever anyone in my family wanted popcorn, they always came to me because I was the best "popper" in the family (probably because I liked it so much!). Did you know the 6th is Caramel Popcorn Day? (National Popcorn Day is the end of January -- there's some debate as to the exact day. Some say the 19th others say whatever day the Super Bowl is on.) :-)


Did you know that U.S. citizens consume 17 billion quarts of popped popcorn every year and eat more than citizens of any other country? That figures out to be 54 quarts of popcorn for every man, woman and child. 70% is eaten at home and 30% at theaters, stadiums, schools, etc.


The popularity of popcorn goes back to at least the 4th century in Mexico and Peru. A popcorn kernel was found dating to the 10th century in a southwest Utah Pueblo Indian ruin. In the 16th century popcorn was an integral part of the Aztec Indian ceremonies.


More recently in the United States, popcorn became very popular in the 1890s. During the Great Depression popcorn sold for 5 or 10 cents a bag and was one of the few luxuries most families could afford. Because of the sugar shortage during World War II and the subsequent lack of candy and other sweets, popcorn consumption in the U.S. tripled. It experienced a slump in the 1950s when television caused a drop in theater (movie) attendance. But it soon revived popularity when the industry started equating popcorn with TV watching. With the advent of microwave popcorn, the industry has seen a resurgence in U.S. popcorn sales of over $240 million per year.


In 1914, Cloid H. Smith founded the American Pop Corn Company and launched the first name brand popcorn -- Jolly Time.


Go here: http://www.popcorn.org/encyclopedia/popvideo.cfm to watch kernels explode in super slow motion -- it's really cool. You can also learn how and why this one type of corn pops. Learn how to save, restore and pop the "Old Maids" (kernels that don't pop)!


Now to the sweeter subject -- caramel corn was invented by a German immigrant named Frederick William Rueckheim and his brother. His family in Germany was in the candy making business. They had the idea of putting molasses over popcorn and adding some peanuts and called it "Candied Popcorn and Peanuts." It debuted at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893. But people didn't like the sticky molasses, so they created a molasses coating that was crispy and dry. This secret formula is still a secret in the Cracker Jack Company to this day.


Legend has it that the name Cracker Jack came from a popular expression of that era. When someone really liked something, they described it as "cracker jack." Rueckheim liked the term, and trademarked it in 1896. He also copyrighted their slogan, "The more you eat, the more you want."


In 1908, Jack Norworth wrote the song, Take Me Out To The Ball Game, and with the line, "Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks" immortalized the popcorn snack. You've probably sung that song at the ballgame, yourself!


In 1910, coupons were included in the boxes of Cracker Jacks so children could redeem for prizes. Two years later the company started actually putting little prizes (miniature books, magnifying glasses, tiny pitchers, metal trains, etc.) into the boxes. The company slogan was "a prize-in-every-package."


In 1918 the picture of a little sailor boy and dog appeared on the Cracker Jacks box. This was in honor of Fred Ruekheim's grandson, Robert, who died of pneumonia at the age of eight. He appeared on the box with his dog, Bingo. In 1919, they became registered trademark logos.


If you'd like to try your hand at it, you can make your own caramel corn. Visit this website (http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-make-caramel-popcorn) for some great recipes and tips on making the perfect caramel corn.


Knowing a little bit about things we take for granted brings a new appreciation for them. Of course, people are far more important than "things." I encourage you to take the time this week to let those you appreciate know how grateful you are for them. As my mother always told me, it's never too late to say thank you! (And why not make some caramel corn to celebrate!)




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Quotes Of The Week
"Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value in your life." ~Northurp Christiane

"Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart." ~Seneca





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