Peanut Butter Popcorn

Two things about me.  First, I love peanut butter.  It's a deep, complex love that spans decades.  As a kid, I ate endless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Peanut butter and banana sandwiches.  Heck, I would make peanut butter and cheddar cheese sandwiches.  On Halloween, I would trade all my candy for Reese's peanut butter cups.  The brief period when you could buy inside out peanut butter cups (just what they sound like) was a glorious (and sugar-filled) time in my life.  The first thing I did upon my return from a month in Switzerland (where peanut butter does not exist) was to go out for a peanut butter cup sundae at Friendly's (RIP).  I'm not kidding around.

Second, I hate popcorn.  It's not really a food - it's mostly air, and it doesn't have any flavor.  Plus the smell of fake butter at the movie theater was enough to turn me off popcorn forever.  Until, of course, I discovered caramel corn.  You can turn popcorn into a vehicle for delivering sugary goodness.  Or, really, whatever you want.  Make cheesey popcorn.  Make spicy popcorn.  Go crazy.

My wife and sister-in-law have been enjoying themselves in Baton Rouge for the past four days.  I didn't have the pleasure of trying alligator sausage, but I did have the opportunity to make whatever I wanted for dinner.  This is usually a dangerous thing, because, left to my own devices, I actually won't cook that much.  I'll drink a lot of juice and occasionally make some toast with (what else) peanut butter.  But driving home from work the other day, I had a crazy craving for caramel popcorn.  And then it came to me.  If I can pour sugar over popcorn, why can't I pour peanut butter?  Well, you see, I can.

Since it's four days until Passover (for which I have yet to clean or shop), there's no better time to pour some kitniyot on top of some more kitniyot.  For eight days, I will have to forgo my beloved peanut butter (and my less beloved, but still tasty, corn).  This is no time for vegetables!  This is no time for potatoes, which I am sure I will consume en masse next week.  No, this is the time to eat peanut butter popcorn for dinner.  While watching Law and Order: Criminal Intent in an empty house.  With an orange cat.

My wife probably shouldn't leave very often.

Peanut Butter Popcorn
Serves 4-6 if you are snacking, or just me for three meals in a row

1/3 c popcorn kernels
3 T oil
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c honey
1/2 c corn syrup
1 c peanut butter
1 t vanilla

First, make your popcorn.  My foolproof method is to heat the oil over high heat in a large pot with three kernels in it.  Wait until those kernels pop.  That's your cue to add the rest of the kernels in one even layer and place the cover on the pot.  Remove the pot from the heat and wait 45 seconds.  Then return the pot to the burner.  Leave the lid slightly off the pot to let steam escape.  Wait until popcorn stops popping, and then dump it all in a large bowl.  This method has never left me with an unpopped or burnt kernel.

Combine the sugar, honey, and corn syrup in a small pan over medium heat.  Stir constantly until boiling.  Remove from heat, add peanut butter and vanilla, and keep stirring until smooth.  Pour over popcorn, and toss until popcorn is coated.  You can let it cool (coating will solidify slightly) or eat it warm and gooey.