Homemade Microwave Popcorn

I'm a zombie today.  I was up every 45 minutes to an hour last night with the kids.  Where they get the idea that mom doesn't need to sleep is beyond me.  I've made it very clear on many occasions that I prefer a full night's sleep to frequent wake up calls.  Silly boys.

Since all I want to do is sleep right now I'm showing you something ridiculously simple today.  A couple years ago for Christmas I received Alton Brown's I'm Just Here for the Food: Version 2.0.  See I'm being good and working on Operation 2012.

I knew how easy it was to make homemade popcorn, but I had no idea I could make homemade MICROWAVE popcorn.  Seriously, you can!  You can have the convenience for the microwave without all the extra oil and greasiness of store bought bags.

Homemade Microwave Popcorn
Alton Brown

Ingredients:
1 paper bag (standard lunch size)
A stapler
1/3 cup uncooked popcorn kernels
1 to 2 tablespoons melted butter
Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Pour the popcorn into a paper bag and fold the top of the bag over twice to close (each fold should be 1/2 inch deep; remember, the kernels need room to pop).
2. Seal the bag with 2 staples only, making sure to place the staples at least 2 to 3  inches apart.
3. Put the bag in the microwave and cook on high power for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the pops are 5 seconds apart.
4. Remove the bag from the oven and open it carefully, avoiding the steam.  Pour the popcorn into a bowl and drizzle with the butter, then toss with salt.

I know you're probably freaking out at the idea of putting metal in the microwave, but it's ok.  I made this and my kitchen didn't go down in flames.  Here's what AB has to say about this method.

"As long as you are using a microwave oven with a turntable and you don't place the bag where the staples can rub against one of the walls, nothing bad will happen. This is because the staples have very little mass and they are shorter than the microwaves themselves, which means they're basically microwave 'invisible.' "

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.