Frugal-Lisa Friday

We eat a lot of popcorn around here. A lot. My favorite way to pop the stuff has always been an air popper. My mom bought me a used one while I was in college, and that's what we've popped with until it died last summer. Since banishing our microwave to the basement a few months ago, air popping has been the easiest and tastiest method of making our favorite treat for movie night, Sunday night Fall Guy DVDs or an after-school snack. Last week the made in China replacement popper that I bought died too. Smoking, clicking, kaput.

The air popper is a necessary tool around this joint. It's used 2–3 times a week. (Not to mention it's a very important part of Nicole's Caramel Corn recipe!) I really, really didn't want to spend another $20 on a cheap unit that would burn up in a month or too. (At this point I could go into Kyle's rant about Wal-Mart and it's influence on American society, our demand for cheap stuff and instant gratification. I guess that's also my rant...I'll stop now.) Anyway...I decided to shop at Goodwill Tuesday to see if they had a popper.

Look what I found...

A vintage 1988 West-Bend Air Poppery II. It was taped up and buried on the bottom shelf near the dishes and miscellaneous knickknacks. I'll admit that I audibly squealed when I found it. The price? $3. THREE DOLLARS! It didn't have the butter melting cup at the top, but that's nothing that a small bowl can't remedy.

That afternoon, while enjoying popcorn with the girls, I went on eBay to see if there was a cup for sale. No cups, but these poppers are going for anywhere from $29 to $69 on eBay! Unbeknownst to me there's an underground coffee bean roasting society and the Poppery II is their tool of choice for roasting beans. Go figure!

Best part (besides the $3 price tag)...it's made in West Bend Wisconsin. I bet you I'll be sending this thing to college with Eleanor someday.