Ideal Bite

Kernel popcorn is great: There's less packaging, it generally tastes better, and it's sort of fun watching the kernels pop and expand into a form ten times their original size.

The thing is, sticking a prepackaged bag in the microwave is so easy compared to using an electric popper or the stovetop method - and sometimes I play that big, lazy American whose religion is convenience, to a T. So when I heard the nation's biggest popcorn producer is dropping diacetyl from all its products, I felt a mix of excitement and guilt, because I know it'll make me that much more inclined, when I'm feeling lazy, to just pop a prepackaged bag in the electromagnetic radiation machine (aka microwave) and be done with it.

But thanks to new Biter team member Hanah, we found there's a middle ground - microwave popcorn made using stuff you already have:

What You'll Need

• 1/2-cup unpopped popcorn
• 2-3 tbsp melted butter
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)
• Paper lunch bag
• Large bowl

Directions

1. Pour the popcorn in the paper bag and fold the top of the bag twice, so it's closed.
2. Put the bag in the microwave and cook on high for 2-3 min, or 'til the pops are 5 sec apart.
3. Take the bag out and pour the popcorn into a bowl and drizzle it with butter, then toss it with salt and nutritional yeast, as desired.

-Toshio...off to zap some kernels...