Popcorn…Back to school lunchbox essential!

It’s September, leaves start turning golden, thoughts turn to the start of school, new pencils, uniforms bought too big, and inevitably also lunch box options, that your kids will eat and the school won’t feel the need to police for fear of you sending them in with a Tupperware full of hydrogenated fats and as numbers.  

Popcorn is is a great place to start, as a snack it’s healthy, low in fat, and quick and easy to make, and will keep all week (so you need only make a batch on a Sunday, and keep it airtight and dry).  It can be sweet or savoury, here are my two favourites.  Sweet coconut and smoky paprika.  

The smoky paprika is also a great homemade nibble to serve with canapés to your guests pre dinner party,  and the sweet coconut adds a lovely crunchy top to a scoop of ice cream.   It has so many uses, so be creative with flavour and context.

Munchy, crunchy and moreish

Ingredients

100g corn kernels

3 tablespoons raw virgin coconut oil (why?) light olive oil will also work

Seasoning

smoked paprika – 3-4 teaspoons smoked paprika

sweet coconut – 2 additional tablespoons of raw coconut oil (or your choice of oil) 2-3 tablespoons desiccated coconut, one tablespoon brown sugar (soft muscovado works well)

Method

Melt the oil in a large pan with a lid. Add the corn, give a quick stir and put the lid of the pan on. Shake the pan a couple of times, and leave it to pop, shaking every 30 seconds or so to make sure nothing burns on the bottom and all the kernels pop. When the popping is 4-5 seconds apart, take the pan off the heat and transfer the hot little clouds to a dish to cool slightly.

For the paprika, simply toss the smokey seasoning through the cooled popcorn, adding little by little until you have the taste you like.  

For the sweet coconut, warm two table spoons of coconut oil (microwave or pan is fine) until it’s liquid but not hot, drizzle this over the pop corn and toss well.  Add the sugar and coconut, little by little until the pop corn is evenly coated.

Store the cooled popcorn in an airtight container, syphoning off portions each morning for lunchbox or after school snacks.