What’s more fun than a whole day dedicated to caramel popcorn? It’s the perfect excuse to catch up with friends over your own unique blend of gourmet popcorn flavors. You could also be off enjoying some crazy funfair activities or sporting events and being in the adrenalin and excitement of a crowd. There are so many ways to celebrate this historical snack but what’s going to be your choice?
Why National Caramel Popcorn Day?
It all started with a mix of popcorn and molasses in the 1800s and the rise of the movie theater. Then, along came a German immigrant in Chicago, Frederick Rueckheim, who added caramel to popcorn. In hindsight, it’s the perfect choice, but back then, it took a bit of creativity to mix savoury with sweet.
So, what really happened back in the early days to bring us this day of gourmet popcorn?
- Popcorn gains popularity
- 1908 ballgame
Popcorn gains popularity
The 1893 World Fair truly kicked off popcorn, more specifically, all the wonders of caramel popcorn. This was the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago to celebrate 400 years since Christopher Columbus arrived. It was a stunning portrayal of his journey across almost 700 acres and covering cultures from 46 countries.
This extraordinary fair exhibited various works of art, music and electricity, still relatively new in those days. Of course, there were some grand new buildings and within all of that was a gourmet popcorn trolley that delighted all the visitors that walked past.
1908 Take Me Out to the Ballgame
On top of that, an American songwriter, Jack Norworth, launched his catchy tune during a ballgame in 1908. Today, it’s still sung at baseball games and somehow locked caramel popcorn and baseball in our minds together. The power of music and food in partnership.
How to Best Enjoy National Caramel Popcorn Day?
Maybe you already have your gourmet popcorn ritual and know exactly how you’re going to spend the 6th of April? Then again, perhaps you’re open to new ideas to try out with your friends? Either way, this day is about savoring your favorite popcorn flavors while enjoying time out with friends and family.
There’s something about food that brings people together. Simply eating the same food engenders trust because we can share it and talk about it. Essentially, through food, we’re combining our interests into a memorable experience. And what better food to do that with than gourmet popcorn?
With gourmet popcorn, you can compare habits and preferences for how everyone likes to eat theirs. For instance, are you a savory or sweet popcorn-eater? Then there’s the sharing. Again, sharing brings us together because we’re giving and receiving at the same time. It’s fun, open and the perfect way to create memories.
So, how are you going to enjoy the day?
- Check out the original catchy tune
- Enjoy a variety of gourmet popcorn
- Have a party
Check out the original catchy tune
Why not take a step back into history and listen to the famous ballgame song? Sometimes it’s fun to unite history with the present and remember the original popcorn makers. After all, it’s thanks to them that we have all our gourmet popcorn today.
Another great way to pay homage to history is to go to a sporting event. Sport is another great way to get our emotions going and to hang out with the important people in our lives. You might even get to sign the original tune at a ballgame live if you’re lucky.
Enjoy a variety of gourmet popcorn
Of course there’s caramel popcorn. Everyone loves the way it melts in the mouth with a slight crunch under the teeth. Then again, why not play around with different recipes? You can even make a day of it at home with lots of laughter in the kitchen as perhaps things don’t turn out as perfectly as you’d hoped.
Have a party
Parties are the obvious way to bring people together. It’s also the perfect way to show off your gourmet popcorn recipes. You can even combine watching a sporting event with sharing your perfect caramel popcorn with friends and neighbors.
Some Homemade Recipes for your Gourmet Popcorn
Now the question is how are you going to make your gourmet popcorn? The best part is that there’s no right or wrong. Thanks to its neutral flavor, you can pretty much add anything you want to your popcorn. No one is going to judge you and you might give your taste buds a pleasant surprise.
You might already have lots of ideas but here are a few more for you to play around with:
- Chewy caramel popcorn
- Buttery gourmet popcorn
- Melted chocolate sprinkle delight
- Cheesy melt
- Buffalo Ranch gourmet popcorn
- Parmesan and garlic mix
- Curried popcorn
- Herbs and sesame blend
Chewy caramel popcorn
Nothing quite beats the traditional caramel covering. It’s both hard and soft with the ideal amount of sugar that makes your taste buds sizzle. Don’t forget the lightness of the fluffy popcorn inside and how it contrasts nicely with the hard gooeyness on the outside. It’s the contrast in textures that delights our taste buds.
Buttery gourmet popcorn
Again, the old classics work well. Also, you don’t have to feel guilty about this one because butter is full of good nutrients. Although, of course, you can’t go overboard and binge on butter. Either way, you can enjoy your buttery popcorn as it is or by adding a sprinkle of salt. If you want to spice things up, add some cinnamon or even some paprika for a hint of the exotic.
Melted chocolate sprinkle delight
Whether you’re partial to milk, dark or white chocolate, you know they all go well with gourmet popcorn. You can simply drizzle it over your popcorn or go all out and cover your popcorn completely to make little balls of fluffy surprise. Let’s not forget that you can also add some color with a handful of sprinkles.
Cheesy melt
All cheese lovers know that cheese goes with pretty much anything. It can really add zing to whatever you’re mixing it with. When it comes to gourmet popcorn, you can use a mix of hard cheeses or just melt some cheddar to cover your popcorn. Then again, you might find it easier and less messy to buy powdered cheese to melt with a bit of olive or coconut oil.
Buffalo Ranch gourmet popcorn
Why not get creative with your sauces? Buffalo Ranch is one option or even perhaps buffalo wing sauce? Simply choose your sauce, mix it with some butter and pour it over your popcorn. It’s as easy as that and you’ll be giving your taste buds a real treat.
Parmesan and garlic mix
Perhaps you prefer simple and elegant like this Italian-inspired mix? You can never go wrong with parmesan and garlic and it goes perfectly with gourmet popcorn. Again, start by melting some butter and then mix in your parmesan powder along with your granulated garlic. Then, you simply pour.
Curried popcorn
Other more exotic taste buds might appreciate chili or curry powder. Yes, popcorn can be turned into something more oriental. In fact, choose any powder you want and keep to the basics of melting it with butter and then drizzling it over your gourmet popcorn.
Herbs and sesame blend
The slightly nutty and sweet sesame seeds can be nicely enhanced with all sorts of herbs. These include cardamom, cloves, coriander, and ginger. Black pepper can also be useful for this one. In fact, you can experiment with herbs of your choice and see what happens. Again, you can’t go too wrong and you’ll have something to laugh about if the end result is a little too wacky.
How Are You Going to Enjoy your National Caramel Popcorn Day?
Any big day needs a bit of planning if you want to make the most out of it. So, book your friends and family for your perfect National Caramel Popcorn Day on the 6th of April. Your first decision is whether you do something at home or if you go out to a fair or a sporting event. Of course, you might have other ideas including a movie session. After all, gourmet popcorn was traditionally savored at the movies.
Once you know what the day will look like, think about what type of caramel or other popcorn you would prefer to have. You can either order online and bring it out with you or look for the various kiosks at your big events. Then, sit back and enjoy the various flavors with your friends and family. It’s going to be the perfect day to remember for years to come.