Make movie night magic with homemade popcorn delights

Planning a movie night at home and can't imagine it without crunchy popcorn? You can easily make this snack yourself, and the result will be just as satisfying as the cinema version.

Popcorn consists of roasted corn kernels, to which you can add salt and butter. The sweet version of this snack is definitely less common. Although predominantly associated with the cinema, you can effortlessly make it at home. To prepare popcorn on a pan, you only need corn kernels, oil, and salt. Simply heat the oil on the pan, then add the corn kernels, cover with a lid, and maintain fairly high heat.

As the kernels heat up, they will start popping, indicating that the popcorn is ready. At this point, hold the lid tightly, as the popcorn will expand to fill the pan's space. Once all the kernels are roasted, transfer the popcorn to a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Optionally, you can add a tablespoon of butter. For a sweet version, drizzle the popcorn with homemade caramel. How do you make it? Pour 3.5 ounces of sugar onto a heated pan. After a few minutes, when the sugar starts to caramelize, reduce the heat and mix vigorously. Add a tablespoon of cream or mascarpone, stir again, and pour over the popcorn.

You can also prepare popcorn in the microwave. There's no need to buy special microwave popcorn for this. Instead, use loose corn kernels and purchase microwave-safe zipper bags. These bags are reusable, which saves money and reduces waste. Alternatively, you can use a baking sleeve. Pour the kernels into the bag or sleeve and seal tightly. Place it in the microwave for a few minutes. Once all the kernels have popped, you can enjoy your freshly made bowl of popcorn.