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Re: popcorn - popping it in a pan with oil is definitely not obsolete! You guys even posted a few recipes for it last week!

And I agree, spreading your own cream cheese on a bagel is soooo old school ;) (Seriously, those pre-spread bagels look NASTY)

I know it's not obsolete! Maybe I should have been more unsubtle with my "eye roll." Perhaps the only thing here that's obsolete is churning butter, even though I know there are folks who enjoy making their own. (I was joking about the bagel/cream cheese thing, too -- I think the Bagel-Fuls are ridiculous.)

I make my own popcorn. I can't stand the microwave stuff. Lots of people make popcorn, so I don't consider it at all an obsolete skill at all. I also, on occasion, make my own butter. Just because I feel like it. It is, in fact, the first food I ever learned how to "cook," being taught how to do so with my classmates in kindergarten. We made it and the teacher took our proudly produced product and spread saltines with the butter and a little jam. It was wonderful. It's also a nice little gift to give, in ceramic pots. I don't think people realize how ridiculously easy it is to make, or they wouldn't be so impressed by it. I mean, think about it. When you over-do whipped cream, what do you get?

I am formally making a pledge right now. I, Chisai, promise to never willingly purchase Bagel-Fuls. I'm thinking that should be pretty simple to stick to.

You're right Adam, some people still churn butter, like my cyber-buddy
chef Bob del Grosso.

I Got Butter

I clean my own fish, and pop corn in a pot. Two down, two to go. Maybe I should stop ignoring my copper pots.

OMG. I've done so, SO many of these things, and some fairly recently. Now I'm feeling really old.

Luckily, there aren't too many that I'm STILL doing... but there are a few. Never tinned copper cookware (as I have none). But I've defrosted an icebox, churned butter and cleaned my own fish. And I definitely still pop my corn on the stove or in the fireplace.

A few you may have missed...

• Grinding grain with a millstone
  
• Making ice cream with a handcrank freezer
  
• Opening a can of beer or soda with a churchkey
  
• Peeling back a lid from an sardine can with a key
  
• Percolating coffee
  
• Salting cod
  
• Stirring yellow dye tablet into white margarine to make it look like butter
  
• Using a beer can opener
  
• Using a bottle opener
  
• Using a Capt'n Crunch Secret Decoder Ring
  
• Whipping cream with a whisk

Add me to the popcorn purists. I hate microwave popcorn. I hate everything about it. I keep my container of Orville close at hand.

I really miss those keys to opening Spam, esp. when the strip broke and you weren't half way around the can. /rolleyes That was rather annoying, so I am glad they changed it because I *love* my fried Spam (cooked in sesame oil with sriracha, sesame Pietro dressing, sliced fresh shiitake, and baby spinach all over white rice, with nori and Kewpie mayo on top)!

We were the first on the block with a microwave oven (huge things!), but when I moved out, I didn't get a microwave oven until 2-3 years ago. I don't use my microwave oven but 1-2 times per week, so if it disappeared, I wouldn't care -- it would just make room on my tiny counter.

Mmm, I fondly remember the smell and dampness of the purple-inked Ditto copies.

loco, my friends in germany have a device that will grind grains into flour, among other things, and once my friend made scones after grinding the wheat. they were amazing. i've looked for something like that here, but never found anything like it.

A neighbor once asked me how I made my popcorn after her son was raving that I make the best popcorn he's ever had. I just make it the way I learned: In a pot with oil. Then add the REAL butter and salt it.