To whomever told us about Amish Country Popcorn-

[Terri_A]

THANK YOU! I'm now totally a fan, addict, junkie! I love their Midnight Blue. I've converted my mother who couldn't eat popcorn due to hulls, but has had success with their hulless. Anyway - it's great stuff and wanted to just say thanks for sharing the link.

http://www.amishcountrypopcorn.com/index.html (Amish Country Popcorn)

[wallycat]

Thanks for sharing; I'm always on the lookout for great kernals to pop :)

And a thank you to whomever recommended the Whirley-pop popper. Best popcorn, EVER!

[charley]

Terri, it might have been me. I've been buying from Amish Country for a few years now ever since discovering the corn on a visit home. My faves are Lady Finger and Baby White. I'm dying for a real pan of stovetop-popped corn. Popping in the microwave doesn't do it justice.

[Terri_A]

charley,

I have the microwave popper like they have on the Amish site. I use about 1 tablespoon of peanut oil and it turns out great! Every now and then, however, I will pop some on the stove because, well, that's just the best way to eat popcorn!!!

Thanks again for the link - their popcorns are really great!

[charley]

Terri, wow, has their site changed! It used to be just popcorn, a few oils, and the Whirlypop. I can't believe they're offering microwave bags. I bought the Presto Popper for the microwave and find it a pain to clean. Course I'm stuck using the bathroom during the remodel so that may color my perception just a little. But even at that, I don't think the flavor of the zapped popped corn is the same. Can't wait to do it on the stove again. :p

[Sugarbetty]

Thanks. I'm really excited to try a few kinds, they look great.

[Beth]

I remember seeing this before, but I didn't order any. How do you decide what kind to try? Or do you just fill the box and get one of everything? :D

[misskitty100]

How does the Whirley popper differ from the stove top method? I always make popcorn on the stove top since we don't have a microwave.

[Beth]

It has a blade inside the pot that turns and stirs the seeds as they heat and pop -- similar to the movie theater poppers except this one uses a hand crank to manually power the blade. I haven't found it necessary for plain popcorn, but I wonder if it wouldn't make kettle corn or caramel corn easier.

[Terri_A]

I remember seeing this before, but I didn't order any. How do you decide what kind to try? Or do you just fill the box and get one of everything? :D

Last time I did the "fill the box" and got a big variety. This time I did another "fill the box", but with less variety since I have faves now!

[wallycat]

How does the Whirley popper differ from the stove top method? I always make popcorn on the stove top since we don't have a microwave.

I don't think there is any true difference (and personally, I don't think that little wire that stirs things is worth much).
I think the real benefit is that the pot is VERY thin aluminum, which means not only is it easy and light to lift, it heats up ultra fast and you have almost all kernels popped in 3 minutes or less!!!

[Beth]

OK, I feel a fill the box order coming up -- but which one? It would be fun to try all 12 varieties, but should I get the 16 bag one or the 12 bag and try the caramel glaze? I doubt the salt is that different. Or is it? I wish they told you even something about the differences in the products. Salt vs ballpark salt? I haven't had coffee yet -- I think I need to go remedy that first. :)

[emncar]

I've been ordering from them for a while now. I buy the box of samplers every year to put together gift baskets for teachers. I am hooked on them all.

[PAMMELA]

I must have missed this original thread, but since I have owned a Whirly Pop for years now, I just ordered a fill the bag with 3 bags and got small white (white popcorn is my favorite), a small yellow and a rainbow.

Can't wait to try it. Right now I use jolly time white which is hard to find around here, my mom or sister usually send me 10 bags at a time!

[Beth]

I've been ordering from them for a while now. I buy the box of samplers every year to put together gift baskets for teachers. I am hooked on them all.

I was thinking that they would be good gifts too.

[springsgourmet9]

Thanks, Charley. You converted me to Amish Popcorn and I bought 4 bags. Love it!

[Terri_A]

charley,

You should be getting royalties from them! Look at the trend you started!

Beth - I like the ballpark salt because it's a butter flvored salt, but its realy salty. I have caramel glaze, but have never used it. I would think you could just buy morton Popcorn salt at Kroger rather than Amish's plain popcorn salt.

Happy shopping!

[PAMMELA]

I was thinking that they would be good gifts too.

I agree, although some people may not "know how" to pop popcorn on the stove! I'm amazed at home many times I've mentioned making popcorn and the person has no clue if it's not the microwave kind. But I guess then you probably wouldn't give that person a gourmet gift like this either.

[misskitty100]

So the popper is sort of easier to use? Doesn't have a taste difference after the corn is popped?

[PAMMELA]

The popper is just a regular pan, but different and easier to use:). Although popping in a regular pot isn't hard either! Taste wouldn't be affected.