I found a recipe online and it all looked fairly simple. Kernels, oil and sugar in a pot. That’s all there was to it. I also read somewhere that I should put 3 kernels in the oil while it heated, and then add the rest of the kernels once those 3 had popped. Apparently putting the kernels in hot oil makes the popcorn retain moisture better, so I tried that. Seemed legit to me. Unfortunately, I didn’t anticipate that since the oil was already hot the kernels would start popping almost immediately. Popcorn started flying from the pot, and I still had to add the sugar and stir. I managed to get the sugar in the pot but stirring was certainly out of the question. Popcorn was flying in all directions and I was worried I might lose an eye in the process. To make matters worse, I couldn’t get the lid of the pot on properly so every time I tried to give it a little shake as stated in the recipe, the popcorn went flying all over again. By the time all the kernels had popped, I could smell the burnt sugar and all I could think about was the state of my mother’s pot. How was going to explain that charred mess? And the popcorn all over the kitchen floor?

Luckily for me the sugar didn’t burn too badly and neither did the popcorn. Half of the popcorn tasted like actual kettle corn and the rest like Cracker Jack. At least it was edible, and considering the excitement, that’s a very good thing.

So attempt number 1 didn’t go as well as I had hoped, but stay tuned for attempt number 2!