Jiffy Pop my.... foot

Noah recently won a package of the Jiffy Pop popcorn that comes in a little pan. He was SO excited. Who doesn't get excited about the prospects of watching popcorn pop right before your eyes. It is very thrilling. The wrapper even says that it is "as much fun to make" as it is to eat. I'll be the judge of that.

Coming into it, we knew the odds were stacked against us. We were warned not to use on ceramic cook tops. I hoped that I could put it in a frying pan and that, though it might take longer, it would still pop. But the pan got too hot and smelly. So I fell on my back up plan, holding it slightly above the burner. According to the instructions, once you hear a sizzling sound you vigorously shake the pan in a circular motion. It can take 2-5 minutes to pop. We heard the sizzle and I began the shaking. First of all, a circular motion is not exactly the most natural way to shake a tin foil pan of hot popcorn. But I tried my best. Noah didn't think I was being vigorous enough so I shook it harder. I rotated hands. I worked up a sweat. Minutes passed and the foil cover didn't show any signs of expansion. Feeling the burn (in my arms) I faithfully continued the shaking until, finally, Noah saw it grow. Energized by the perceived improvement, I shook it, around and around and around. Until finally, 10 minutes later,it was starting to smoke. Not steam, smoke. My childhood recollections of Jiffy Pop are off it always being burned. I was not going to do that to my kids. Our Jiffy Pop was going to be delicious. I figured that it wouldn't all be popped, but it would still be better than burnt. As per the directions, I got a fork and pierced the lid. Anticipation high, I peeled the foil back. My reward for all that work: 3 popped kernels. "It's all nuts!" exclaimed my boys. What a bummer. So I pulled out a bag of microwave popcorn, we watched it expand and had a bowl full of delicious popcorn in a jiffy.