Back in the days when I was making up new muffin recipes constantly there were a couple of flavors that eluded me, and one was Popcorn Muffins. Now I pride myself on creating the exact flavor of whatever muffin I’m making. For example PB&J has to taste like PB&J. My creamsicle variety has to (and does!) taste just like a creamsicle. Same with my Hot Toddy muffins and so on. But somehow I could not get the popcorn flavor right. Just putting popcorn in the batter wasn’t enough to bite into the muffin and say “Ah! This tastes like popcorn!” Now for some serendipity. I watch “Chopped” on the mornings I do my workout. Not a minute goes by that I don’t learn something. Today, one of the basket ingredients was popcorn on the cob. Now you know that on this show the contestants have to make the mandatory ingredients shine, no just throwing popcorn on as a garnish. Well this woman chef did what I think is brilliant. She popped the corn and heated it up in a pan of cream to infuse the cream with flavor, and then she pureed the popcorny liquid in a food processor. What she did with it after that I don’t know because my mind was racing. As soon as my exercising was done I went to my kitchen and popped some popcorn. I put it in a pan with evaporated milk and heated it through. I mixed up my usual muffin batter but threw in about a cup of popcorn and then the pureed mixture. As a topping I made some white chocolate popcorn (which certain former co-workers may remember fondly.) So what’s the verdict? Does the muffin taste moist and delicious? Yes! Does it taste like popcorn? NO! Maybe I should have watched more of the show.