Popcorn!

About the only successful corn this year was the popcorn.  I took it off about 3-4 weeks ago right before we started having rain practically every day.  We peeled back the husks from each ear and then hung it to dry.  The ears were in the room with our onions, which have also been drying with the help of a dehumidifier (these are getting stored for the winter).

It seems that the optimal time to begin popping is when the kernels split from the ear with relative ease.  If the ear still seems gummy when you're trying to pull them off, it's too wet.  You should see little flakes come off too.  Three of the ears turned into about 1/3 cup of kernels.

Use caution, hot oil!  Once shucked, heat at least 1 tablespoon of coconut oil over medium-high heat (6-7 on our stove) in a saucepan with well-fitting lid.  Add the 1/3 cup of popcorn immediately lest it send hot oil everywhere, and then cover.  Shake lightly to distribute the oil and then wait for the popping, perhaps agitating the pot every 30 seconds.  Once it starts popping, try not to move the pot much.  Watch with awe as the pot fills with popcorn and then when the popping starts to die down (2 minutes?), remove from the heat.  You won't pop every kernel, and if you wait too long, you'll burn it.  Wait a minute for the residual popping to stop, and then pour into a bowl.  Add salt to taste.  You'll end up with what looks like the stuff that's left over in the movie theatre popcorn bag (small pieces, not Swedish Fish), but it's still tasty.