Fall is the time to eat scrumptious squash and pick homegrown popcorn. Whether at a festival or farmer’s market, there’s usually someone selling kettle corn. I love the stuff, but it’s expensive. This homemade version requires less than 50 cents and only 9 minutes!
Prep (1 minute):
- A large pot with a lid (mine’s 8 quarts)
- Oil
- 1/4 cup sugar (I used raw sugar, which is light brown – this gives the kettle corn a caramel colored glaze as you’ll see with the finished product. It’s not burnt.)
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
- Salt
- Your favorite popcorn bowl
Instructions (7 minutes):
Pour oil so it covers the bottom of the pot.
Throw 3-5 kernels in the pot and put on medium high heat.
When all the kernels pop (approximately 4 minutes), pour the sugar in and shake the pot to distribute evenly.
Immediately pour in the popcorn kernels and shake to distribute evenly.
IMPORTANT: Put the cover on the pot! Oil splatters galore!
Shake the pot back and forth over the burner until most kernels are popped. (The popping will slow down just like the microwavable stuff.) This will take approximately 3 minutes.
Finishing up (1 minute):
Alternate pouring popcorn in the large bowl and pouring salt on to get the trademark salty-sweet taste of kettle corn!
And yes, where the begging dogs can’t reach, the cats will always be there to make up for it.
The cost analysis:
- Oil and salt – I don’t know since I didn’t measure them
- 1/4 cup sugar = $0.09
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels – $0.20
- TOTAL: $0.29 (plus oil and salt) !!!
- This sure beats paying $4 for the same amount at a market!
If you’re interested in more recipes you can check out my food and recipes pages.
I’m also participating in the following foodie carnivals today! You can find many more recipes here:
This article originally appeared on December 8, 2008.
MOVIE MONDAYS IN DECEMBER #1
My husband and I enjoy going to movies together, and try to make it out a couple times a month. Unfortunately, at nearly $20 just for tickets to a single show, and another $10 for food, the cost becomes somewhat prohibitive. Fortunately, there are many ways to save a little $$ when going to the movie theater.
Here are a few of the things we try, generally using these tips you can reduce the cost of going to the movies by over half, and it doesn’t have to involve sneaking in food in your purse or coat 
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MOVIE MONDAYS IN DECEMBER #4
Hi again! I apologize for not doing a post last Friday – the stomach flu has now hit me twice within one month! I’m thankfully feeling much better now. This week, I have ways 16-20 to save money at the movies – the last five ways that I can possibly think of! These are more miscellaneous tips.
- Visit a drive-in – I’ve been to one once. Ahh…the alone time with your man (or woman), no cell phones or texting, no seat kicking or kids screaming, turning the volume on your car radio up or down as needed, controlling the temperature in your car, sneaking more food in, and the double feature! We paid per person and got to see two shows for the price of one! I don’t know if they’re all like that, though. But, seriously… two movies for two adults for $14 isn’t bad at all! Visit www.driveintheater.com for your local theater.
- Attend a sneak preview – From what I understand, you see two movies for the price of one and you get to see a movie before it’s officially out.
- Work part time at a theatre or become best buddies with someone who works there. Rumor has it that you can get in free and get free popcorn and pop. I’d like to know how much of that is true…
- Watch the movie and get paid! Some mystery shopping companies assign movie theatre shops. My dh and I did one when we were back home last March. They reimbursed for two adult tickets for any showing, a small popcorn, a small soda, and paid $5 on top of that!
- If the movie is acting up while you’re watching it – for example, scratches in the video or bad sound – say something about it! I went to see Pride and Prejudice with my mom and the video was wonky (but watchable) the whole time. We didn’t complain, just simply mentioned it to an employee, who then gave each of us a complementary ticket to see another movie!
I didn’t list “sneaking in” because there are differing views on it. I personally would never do it, but know some people who do it regularly and have never been caught. I also know some people who have been caught. As a word of caution, or a threat, theaters do keep count of how many tickets they sell versus how many people are sitting in that particular showing – they will go in and ask people to show their tickets!
I hope you enjoyed December’s Movie Monday Madness! Please leave feedback and let me know what has or hasn’t worked for you. See you in January for some new entertainment topics!
Previous “Movie Mondays in December” posts:
5 Ways to Save Money at the Movies 1-5
5 Ways to Save Money at the Movies 6-10
5 Ways to Save Money at the Movies 11-15
MOVIE MONDAYS IN DECEMBER #3
Hi and Welcome Back! This week’s entertainment article is my third installment of 5 Ways to Save Money at the Movies. Listed below are tips 11-15. This week, I give tips on memberships and show the price difference between the admission at a new theater and the admission at an older theater.
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MOVIE MONDAYS IN DECEMBER #2
This week’s entertainment article is an extension of last week’s article, 5 Ways to Save Money at the Movies. This week I give tips on snacks, free movie coupons, and a club that you can join!
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