noshing

Frieda’s dried jackfruit Geoff & Drew’s Late Night Incredible Cookies Trader Joe’s pumpkin seeds Barilla’s tortelloni

A sweet snack food whose caloric content decreases when cooked is worth trying simply for that striking characteristic.

As kettle corn cooks, it expands in size and flavor, not in the number of sit-ups you’ll have to do after you eat it. It’s popcorn with just enough sweetness to satiate the grab-the-M&Ms urge, but with that familiar saltiness ideal with barley and hops. Kettle corn was introduced in America back in the 1700s, when the corn was popped in cast-iron kettles, then mixed with natural sweeteners — honey, molasses, or sugar. The settlers liked it, and so have carnival-going Americans throughout the years: the lightly coated, sweet-and-salty corn has made a comeback at fairs and flea markets nationwide, giving the more heavily coated caramel corn a run for its money. Though the kettle-corn concept is nothing new, Act II’s microwave variety is. And it’s ready in four minutes or less.

Available at local grocery stores for $2.19 for a three-serving pack, or $2.99 for a six-pack.