I don’t know about you, but Saturday nights are hectic for us. We go to Saturday Night Service at our Church because it works with Hubby’s schedule… Sunday mornings don’t. And I love Saturday nights because of it. But alas, we get home right around 6:30pm and the kids are needing dinner like 45 minutes ago at that point. So we started implementing a tradition that my parents started with my sibs and I when we were kids, Popcorn Night.
Popcorn Night is pretty much just what it sounds like. A dinner of air-popped popcorn (with scrumptious melted butter and salt added of course) served with whatever fruit we have on hand to help make it a tad more nutricious. My kids love it. We all sit around and watch a movie while we munch.
It’s delightful.
It’s a win-win.
The kids love the treat, and the parents love the quick, easy dinner that, in my opinion, is still healthier than hitting the drive-thru even with the butter and salt.
You can pick any night as Popcorn Night. Growing up, our Popcorn Night was on Sunday as we always went to evening Church service (as well as morning. Yep, we were sooo holy. I’m totally kidding!!!), now it’s Saturday’s. For you it might be Mondays. Mondays are always rough…
Popcorn Nights are one of the things that work for me. Check out Rocks In My Dryer for more fabulous ideas.
11 comments
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May 28, 2008 at 7:20 am
aubrey
My parents always did this with us growing up. Even though we are now all out of the house, I think they still do. My dad loves to pop corn right on the stove, the old-fashioned way.
May 28, 2008 at 8:32 am
runningamuck
Aubrey, my parents still do it too! lol. They are empty-nesters (have been for several years) but still do popcorn nights on sunday after church. I’m guessing that’ll be Hubby and I in 20 years also. =0)
May 28, 2008 at 8:36 am
ames
Ooh, yum! My favorite way to have popcorn is with a melted-butter-and-peanut-butter mixture drizzled over it, adds some protein too!
May 28, 2008 at 9:44 am
allenfive5
We still do the popcorn tradition most Sunday nights. The kids love it. We always enjoy eating apples as our healthy food with our popcorn. Yum!
May 28, 2008 at 9:34 pm
jainhollie
I cannot wait to start this tradition with my kids! Of course, as my first is only two months old today, it’ll be a while.
May 29, 2008 at 9:20 am
Dev
that is such a good idea!! i never knew that so many families have these out-of-the-ordinary dinner nights! I was watching Jon and Kate Plus 8 a few days ago and they have an “ice cream for dinner” night once a summer.
Its awesome you’re so flexible with the kids! this will be something they’ll remember for years to come because of the thrill of “breaking the rules”.
May 29, 2008 at 9:27 am
Heather
We used to do this too! But it was popcorn on the stovetop, not even the jiffy pop, which I thought was really cool. I recently taught my hubby how to do popcorn on the stovetop. It’s so much better than microwave sometimes!
May 29, 2008 at 9:55 am
runningamuck
ames, peanut butter drizzled popcorn?? I’m going to have to try that out! Sounds delightfully messy. =0)
Allenfive5 and JH, it is soo fun to continue the family tradition! Next time we do a family reunion (if ever), we’ll have to have a popcorn/movie night… since we all do it (or will be doing it). Great cousin memories for the kids.
Dev, I’ve NEVER thought of an ice cream for dinner night. That sounds like a fantastic summer treat. We’ll be buying an ice cream maker (attachment for my kitchenaid mixer) this summer so that’s a great family tradition begging to be added to our family list. Thanks!!
Heather, I always seem to burn stovetop popcorn. I agree it tastes the best though… if you can make it without the burnt flavor added! lol. Microwave just doesn’t cut it for me anymore. I love the airpopper. Microwave popcorn is reserved for “camping”. =0)
May 29, 2008 at 11:33 am
threeundertwo
Great idea! I might do it this weekend. We already have family movie night, but popcorn for dinner would make it even more fun.
May 29, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Jen
I LOVE this idea!! Sounds like a plan to me. Mom’s happy, kids are happy. Who could ask for more??
May 31, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Keri
WOW! We used to do the SAME thing when I was a kid! And it was Sunday nights!! We would get home from church, Dad would pop the popcorn…he had this popper that had a metal arm that spun under the kernels. Then he would dump it all in doubled up paper grocery bags, POUR on the butter and salt and shake it up!! MMMMM so good. We also would have Ramen noodles! And we always watched NOVA. LOL