Popcorn = Rappana Family Tradition

Popcorn. Butter. Salt. Dad's pressure cooker. Family. Comfort. Deliciousness.

These are all words that go together! There are many memories I have growing up and a lot of them include popcorn! Thanks to dad's trusted pressure cooker that he inherited from his parents, we have never been in want of popcorn. And since he searched high and low for additional pressure cookers to pass onto his girls, our future children will grow up with this treasured Rappana family tradition. Did I mention Tyler is the popcorn maker in our family now? That makes my heart happy!

Dad's pressure cooker and best popcorn ever!

I remember one time when Ashley and I were little we had to go to bed even though we smelled and heard popcorn popping in the kitchen.

Another time we got back from a shopping trip to Rapid City and dad made popcorn. I must have been about six or seven years old and I had to tell myself to slow down because I was eating it too fast. So I ate three pieces of popcorn at a time. This seems like an odd memory but it's true!

Fourth of July is synonymous with popcorn. When I was little we'd go to the parking lot of St. Patrick's Church and eat popcorn out of brown lunch bags while watching the fireworks over the Open Cut. One time we went to Nancy and Ken's apartment in Deadwood and ate popcorn from a large bowl while we watched the fireworks. I distinctly remember picking out the buttered pieces. I might still be known to do this today...

I remember watching dad make popcorn and when it was time to melt the butter he would hold the pot down at my level so I could watch the butter melt.

And for my favorite popcorn memory: going out to watch the stars at night while eating popcorn with our family. When we lived on Railroad in Lead we'd go to the picnic table outside. Dad would bring the big popcorn bowl and we'd look up at the stars while eating popcorn. When we moved to Miners Ave we'd go to the swinging porch in the back and look out at the town. There's something about family and food that makes me feel secure.

Last night Tyler made us popcorn for the first time in months. Since we've been traveling we haven't had access to our pressure cooker. Microwave popcorn is a close second but doesn't quite do it. I am thankful for my dad and his love of popcorn and for passing this love onto me. Check out my dad's favorite memories about popcorn here!

One tip for those out there that are hungry for popcorn after reading this...use salted butter! It makes all the difference in the world.