Popcorn Man

As I sit here through yet another viewing of Cars the Movie it occurs to me that if I don't stop typing and get my hand in the big bowl of fresh popcorn a little more often, my 2-year-old Popcorn Man is going to beat me to the punch! Every time I glance over Nas' mouth is so full there are white puffed kernels peeking between his little lips. It's nerve-wracking because 1) he's a puker and anything sets off his gag reflex and 2) I did want SOME popcorn!!

My favorite snack has, for as long as I can remember, been popcorn. My mom said she too had to compete for fresh, hot popcorn...with a then 1-year-old Natalie. She says she would break off the puffed parts and give them to me but by the time she went to enjoy a little for herself I was ready and waiting for more! Well things haven't changed, I love love LOVE popcorn. I prefer it cooked on the stove and sprinkled lightly with salt. Yes, there are plenty of options out there: movie theatre butter, cheddar cheese, even kettle corn, but I don't like any of those. I want to TASTE my popcorn with only a hint of salt to compliment the flavor. As Rachel Ray would say: Yum-O. Lucky for me, Jay and Babe don't like my popcorn, too bland. Babe likes his all greased up in butter and sometimes laden in the globs of "cheese butter" flavor he can microwave. Jay will only eat cheese popcorn which is just fine with me!

Then there's Nas who's in the bowl faster than I am. His nose knows when mommy's cooking up some corn. I think he'll eat it any kind of way. He likes Nana's kettle corn, Gangan's butter flavored and will race Jay to a bowl of cheese popcorn. I suppose he's an equal opportunity popcorn lover. Until, of course, he gets an unpopped kernel, then he's leaning over the bowl, MY bowl, spitting out any remnants of the corn. It's always nice to dine with someone, but does it HAVE to be Nas the Popcorn Man???