It's National Popcorn Day

Today, January 19th, is National Popcorn Day.  Plain air popped popcorn is an excellent treat to share with your canine family members.  It's low and calories and has a taste most dogs love.

Hounds awaiting Popcorn

Of course you can make popcorn in the microwave, but I think the stove popped kind is tastier and its easier to make it totally plain for your pups, and then add flavors for yourself if you want.   Although you can make popcorn in a pot on top of the stove, the brown eyed baker has good instructions, if you are going to be making a lot of popcorn its worth investing in a popcorn maker, I like Whirly Pop,  easy to use and only 20 dollars on amazon.

While plain air popped corn is fine, and certainly the healthiest option for people and dogs, I like my popcorn with a bit more flavor and National Popcorn Day is a perfect time to make something special.   Jacques Torres Chocolate, which is in down town Manhattan, is a mecca for all things chocolate and sells a delicious chocolate-caramel popcorn. 

Here is a picture of Weasley  outside the store last summer, you can read the post it is from, The Sleepy Foodie, here

 I wanted to try making my own version at home.  I found plenty online but I used the one from Chocolate, Chocolate, and More, with some slight changes and the addition of chocolate.

Caramel, Peanut Butter, and Chocolate Popcorn 

• 10 cups of plain air popped popcorn (make this in the popcorn maker or on the stove top in a large pot using the Brown Eyed Baker's method, 1 tbsp of kernels makes about 1 cup of popped corn, so use 10 tbsp of kernels and 2 tbsp of vegetable oil to make your corn).
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup light corn syryp
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp, butter cut in pieces
• 1/2 cup of peanut butter (optional there is no peanut butter in the Jacques Torres version, but I liked the addition)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (milk or semisweet)

In a medium sauce pan combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and butter.  Cook over medium heat, stirring with a heat proof spatula or wooden spoon to combine

 Bring to a boil and boil 3 minutes until it is a a deep golden brown.  Stir in the peanut butter, if using, and the vanilla and stir to combine.  Pour over the popcorn, which you need to  have in a large bowl, and stir quickly to combine.  Transfer the popcorn to a parchment lined baking sheet.  Put in the oven at 200 degrees and cook for 45 minutes stirring every 15 minutes so that the popcorn gets a little crispy (you may want to use two pans so you have enough room to stir).   Put back in the large bow and add the chocolate ships.  Stir to melt the chips.  Store in a large air tight container.

Of course with popcorn you need a movie. Here are five somewhat under the radar canine centered films we recommend.

1) Charlie Chaplin's: A Dog's Life, 1918: This was Chaplin's first hit and stars the Little Tramp and his canine companion.

2) The Thin Man, 1934, and After the Thin Man, 1936: Beautiful clothes, gorgeous sets, and most importantly, Asta the Dog.

3) Umberto D, 1952: Italian art-house classic about an old impoverished man and his beloved dog.  The final scene below is a major tear-jerker, but it a good way.

4) Milo and Otis, 1986-The charm of this film is there are no people present at all.  Just adorable animals, led by a pug and an orange cat.

5) My Dog Tulip, 2009: This is the story of the writer J.R. Ackerly who finds the love he is been looking for all his life when he adopts a German Shepherd dog.  This might be the only movie that has ever made me cry.