I’ve always loved popcorn, although popcorn hasn’t always loved me. When I was diagnosed with a corn allergy in 2007, it was a very sad day for me. Fortunately, avoidance helped me overcome the allergy, and now I’m free to eat it again!

We were browsing through Target shortly before Christmas, and saw all the interesting popcorn flavorings they had like white cheddar, cinnamon and sugar, kettle corn, sea salt and vinegar, and buffalo wing, all of which sounded delicious to Ken and I.

Our new favorite snack is flavored popcorn from the microwave. But rather than buying microwave popcorn, we’ve found a cheaper and better-tasting way to do it:

Brown Bag Microwave Popcorn!

You’ll need:

• 1/4 cup popcorn
• 2 tsp olive oil (Most of it ends up on the bag, but it does help the kernels to pop more easily. Skip it if you want.)
• Brown lunch bag

Put 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels in the brown bag. Drizzle olive oil over the top of the corn. Fold the top over twice, and staple shut. (Yes, you can put a staple in the microwave, and my microwave has not exploded.) Shake bag to distribute oil.

Microwave until there are several seconds between pops. (My microwave took 1 1/2 minutes.)

Sprinkle with your favorite seasoning and enjoy! (Serves one generous serving.) My favorite seasoning is the white cheddar, and Ken loves the kettle corn and sea salt and vinegar — but not together.

Another easy recipe we’ve tried in the past and loved is:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn

Instead of sprinkling popcorn with seasoning, use the following:

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter

Melt together in a double boiler. Pour over 1/2 cup popcorn, popped (double the amount in the recipe above or use a bag of microwave popcorn) and quickly stir to mix.If desired, refrigerate for 15 minutes, and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

It’s delicious and addictive!  Store in a tightly sealed container . . . if you have any left, that is.