Caramel Popcorns for New Year

 

Happy New Year !!!!

May the Year 2011 brings great health, happiness and world peace.

Today is the 1st day of year 2011.

We do not celebrate New Year’s day at home as to us it is just another day. The only difference is, today is a public holiday and we would normally take this opportunity to spend quality time together.

We did watch “Prince of Persia” on DVD at home. Just before we sat down to watch the movie, my daughter commented that it would be great if we could have popcorns like in the cinema. 

I remembered reading about popping corns over the stove/burner in Happy Home Baking sometime back. Thanks to Happy Home Baking, we have a a tub of perfectly homemade popped corns. The family loved it and it transformed our dvd viewing experience into a cinema experience.

 

The popcorns in the wok freshly popped

It is so easy… I will never buy those microwave popcorn packs again.

 

The popcorns in the wok coated with caramelized sugar.

 

Here is how it is done…………….

Caramel Pop Corns (by Happy Home Baking)

Ingredients

4 tbsp popcorn kernels .
3 tbsp cooking oil (I use canola oil)
4 tbsp sugar (use 6 tbsp for a sweeter taste)
2 tbsp coarsely grounded peanuts (I omitted as I do not have them)
1 tbsp sesame seeds (I forgot to add in this time)

Method:
Heat up a wok (use a heavy-base wok to prevent the popcorn kernels from burning) over high heat. When the wok is very hot, add in the oil. Turn heat to medium-high and add in popcorn kernels. Stir with a wok spatula until the popcorn kernels are evenly coated with oil. Keep stirring until the first kernel pops (takes only a few seconds). Cover the wok immediately with a lid. The popcorn kernels will start to pop all at once. As the popping continues, gently swirl the wok back and forth over the burner. Do this once or twice in between the popping. Wait for the popping to slow to a few seconds between pops. Turn off the heat, remove lid and transfer popcorn into a wide bowl. (Note, the inside of the lid will be covered with the cooking oil.)
Return wok to burner and turn heat to medium-low. Place sugar in the wok and let it melt. Do not stir, it will take a few minutes for the sugar to melt/caramelise. Turn off the heat when the sugar has completely melted. Return the popcorn into the wok and sprinkle over the grounded peanuts and sesame seeds. Toss with spatula to combine.

The next time, I will add in those peanuts and sesame seeds!!!!