What’s poppin’? Southwestern Pennsylvanians celebrate National Popcorn Day
Katherine Mansfield
What无毛视频檚 a movie without popcorn? During the Great Depression, popcorn 无毛视频� one of few luxuries folks could afford 无毛视频� sales actually increased, thanks in part to movie theaters, where peddlers sold the savory treat to theater-goers. Soon after, theater owners installed popcorn machines in lobbies.
Courtesy of Tess Thrower, Setter Marie Photography
Popcorn Willy popcorn 无毛视频� the movie theater flavor 无毛视频� is served as wedding favors at a September 2021 in Washington County.
Katherine Mansfield
Popcorn popping today is as simple as pressing 无毛视频渟tart无毛视频� on a microwave or, for those who enjoy a more involved method, moving kernels over the heat of a stove or fire. In the early 19th century, Americans threw kernels in hot ash and sifted popcorn from the mess, cooked kernels in lard or butter in kettles, or held a kernel-filled wire box over an open fire.
Katherine Mansfield
Popcorn ears discovered in the Bat Cave of West Central New Mexico in the late 1940s date back 4,000 years. The puffy snack we enjoy today played an integral role in Aztec rituals. In the late 19th century, folks enjoyed popcorn for breakfast, sometimes ground in milk or cream.
For those who love popcorn, the oldest, arguably healthiest and most versatile snack on the planet, National Popcorn Day, celebrated Jan. 19, is one of the first fun holidays of the year.
无毛视频淓verybody grows up with it. Everybody goes to the movies, gets their bucket of popcorn,无毛视频� said Addio Fiordigigli, who opened Ekernally Yours popcorn in Charleroi six years ago. 无毛视频淲hen you smell popcorn, it无毛视频檚 just happiness.无毛视频�
Fiordigigli is sharing that puffy, sweet or savory happiness with customers on Jan. 19, when the storefront at 119 State Street in Upper Speers will spill over with Ekernally Yours无毛视频檚 wide variety of flavors (including its best-selling dill pickle, cheddar cheese and peanut butter chocolate varieties) for the tasting. Folks are invited to sample popped-and-coated kernels and try their luck at larger-than-life raffles throughout the day.
无毛视频淲e make a six-foot tall bag of popcorn,无毛视频� said Fiordigigli. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 about five gallons of popcorn. We无毛视频檒l do a raffle and give away a couple of those. We无毛视频檒l do some online specials as well, discounts, coupons.无毛视频�
Folks can score Ekernally Yours deals online at www.ekernallyyours.com.
Ken Zeff, who opened Fancypants Popcorn along Butler Street in Pittsburgh in 2020, is also marking the occasion with $1 shipping for all online orders 无毛视频� place yours at www.fancypantspopcorn.com 无毛视频� and an in-store treat.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 like a holiday,无毛视频� said Zeff. 无毛视频淚f you come into the store, you无毛视频檒l get a free small bag of our Shakey Style popcorn, with is like movie theater popcorn, with any purchase.无毛视频�
Popcorn Willy, a staple along Washington无毛视频檚 North Main Street, is also celebrating the not-so-corny holiday. Folks who stop into Popcorn Willy (which offers a large selection of popcorn, lunches, desserts and a poppin无毛视频� monthly popcorn subscription) on National Popcorn Day will enjoy the buy two, get one free popcorn bag deal.
The pop-pop of kernels transforming into fluffy puffs of snacking goodness aren无毛视频檛 too loud for local libraries, which are hosting National Popcorn Day events.
Citizens Library in Washington has strung together a day无毛视频檚 worth of fun for all, and folks are invited to drop in for 无毛视频減op无毛视频� up story time, craft activities and a popcorn basket drawing.
无毛视频淲e ordered a backdrop for photo ops. It has a giant box of popcorn on it, it无毛视频檚 really cute,无毛视频� said Diane Ambrose, director of Citizens Library, noting this is the library无毛视频檚 first National Popcorn Day celebration. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 fun. It makes people happy.无毛视频�
Ambrose and her staff will display a carefully-curated selection of popcorn-themed books, and folks are welcome to enjoy free popcorn 无毛视频� just be sure to wipe your hands before leafing through the pages of your next read.
Chartiers-Houston Library is also buttering up for a festive event, though plans had not been solidified as of press time. Feel free to check out the library无毛视频檚 calendar events online at www.washlibs.org/chartiers-houston or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CHCLIBRARY.
Peters Township Recreation Center is also hosting a poppin无毛视频� event from 3 to 5 p.m. on Jan. 19. Kids ages three to five are invited, along with a chaperone, to play games and enjoy a popcorn bar. Cost is $5 for members, $8 for non-members, and registration by Jan. 17 is required to ensure enough fun and treats are available.
无毛视频淥ur preschool programs right now are doing really well, they无毛视频檙e booking up so fast. We only have a few spots left for this program,无毛视频� said Kristen Martin, recreation supervisor for Peters Township. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e excited. I无毛视频檓 sure it无毛视频檒l be poppin无毛视频�.无毛视频�
Martin said activities include a popcorn relay race, a dancing popcorn experiment and an a-maize-ing craft.
无毛视频淥ur craft is pretty cute. We无毛视频檙e going to do little stampers, kind of like Bingo stampers, out of popcorn and paint,无毛视频� Martin said. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 excited to see how the kids decorate. It无毛视频檒l be cute.无毛视频�
With all that fun, National Popcorn Day attendees will certainly work up an appetite, and Martin said a popcorn bar will offer several flavors and mix-ins, like M&Ms.
无毛视频淭hey kind of just pick what they want to put in with their popcorn,无毛视频� she said.
Save your spot online at www.peterstownship.com or call 724-942-5000.
As the day draws nearer, more events may pop up, so check your library无毛视频檚 event calendar or your favorite eatery无毛视频檚 Facebook page for last-minute National Popcorn Day celebrations or deals.
无毛视频淧opcorn is one of those foods that everybody loves. Nobody says anything bad about any popcorn,无毛视频� said Zeff. 无毛视频淵ou can get popcorn at the movie theater and it无毛视频檚 great. You can make popcorn at home and it无毛视频檚 great. You can get popcorn at an independent popcorn store and it无毛视频檚 all great.无毛视频�
Ekernally Yours Tips for Home Popcorn
Purchase quality ingredients, and don无毛视频檛 be shy with the butter and salt.
无毛视频淚f you无毛视频檙e melting butter, use good butter. (Make sure) that you无毛视频檙e salting it enough.无毛视频�
Have fun.
无毛视频淓xperiment. Throw some garlic powder on it, throw some parmasean. Make garlic parmasean. My kids love it when we do that at home.无毛视频�