Nopcorn

Dried Cob

 It was the seed of an idea sown during a brainstorming session with the schoolchildren.

Child: I'm not really interested in any of the vegetables growing in the garden.

Volunteer:  What's your favourite food then.

Child: Well I like popcorn.

Volunteer: Well shall we try to grow that?

Child: Huh?!?!


Research suggested that the corn variety Strawberry was suitable for making popcorn and was also rather decorative being red instead of yellow. So we bought some seed and planted the resulting plants into the school garden.  And it grew:

Now we were not to know that 2019 was going to have a really miserable summer - especially the second half.  No one that I know of has had any success with 'normal' sweetcorn this year.  So I was quite chuffed when the odd couple of cobs grew to any size at all.  This was the best:

After letting the cob dry out thoroughly it was time today to try to 'pop' it.  

Attempt 1  Place the whole cob onto a really hot frying pan.  Result: charred cob and 2  audible cracks.  Pan ruined, kitchen smelling like a campfire. No popcorn.

Burnt but not popped

Attempt 2:  Blitz in the microwave.  Result - very much like I imagine the blitz was. Flashes of light and smoke and disturbing noises.  But once the smoke had cleared there was evidence of some genuine popping in amongst the burnt offering:

Next time I might go straight to the microwave method.

So an experiment with very limited results - probably not to be repeated.  I mean who would be that foolhardy?

Now here's the real thing: