The long wait for local popcorn and beans is over, this week I visited a fellow farmer to use his thrasher.
This was a speedy way for me to shell all the popcorn and dried beans that I had harvested at the end of the summer. This year I grew Pennsylvania Dutch Butter popcorn and Dakota Black popcorn. For dried beans I grew Silver Cloud, Jacob’s Cattle, Saturday Night Special, Calypso, and California Black-eye peas.
I’ve been missing my farm grown popcorn as I like eat popcorn year round. I think of it as its own food group. Heirloom popcorn has a nutty flavor but any topping is a great choice. I’m a big fan of rosemary, garlic, olive oil and nutritional yeast. Though some days I just add salt. I tend to like my popcorn with savory toppings but I’ve been working on perfecting a maple syrup version of kettle corn. My favorite way to make my popcorn is over the stove top but the heirloom popcorn will pop in an air-popper or even in the microwave.
Popcorn kernels are non perishable and will last an incredibly long time when store in an airtight container like a mason jar. The heirloom popcorn will be available for sale at the Sonoma farmers’ market until Christmas or online, shipping anywhere within the Untied States. During these cold grey post-election days few things are as comforting as a big bowl of popcorn shared with those you love.