New England Popcorn Shop Is One Of The Best In The U.S.

Popcorn is synonymous with watching movies and providing some cheer among friends. Taste of Home recently published the best gourmet popcorn in America, and a New England establishment was named.

"More than 17 billion quarts of popcorn are consumed by Americans every year, according to industry analysts," See California reports.

Aside from the smiles, there are additional benefits to popcorn. Compared to many other kid-friendly snacks, popcorn is relatively low in calories. That's, of course, as long as you don't load it up with butter or caramel (but even that is OK sometimes).

To add to the fun that comes with a bag of popcorn, Parade recently ranked the 25 best popcorn flavors. Movie theatre butter, white cheddar, and caramel ranked as the three highest.  But popcorn is so good that even "plain" ranked in the top six.

At the New England popcorn shop that was named among the best, they partner with local farmers, enabling them to use various types of fresh kernels.

Located in Burlington, Vermont, Karen's Artisan Popcorn allows you to shop online if you can't visit a store. Furthermore, they offer a monthly subscription club where you will receive a unique gourmet flavor every month.

As for the flavors you can expect at Karen's Artisan, one of their best is maple-flavored. In fact, Maple Kettle Bliss is the first option. Then, we get it to the unique varieties. These include dark chocolate coconut, candied berry, and lemon confection.

Lastly, we quickly approaching gift-giving season. Karen's Artisan Popcorn thrives in this area as well. They offer gift packs and custom wrapping that will ship throughout the country.

You can find a list of Karen's Artisan Popcorn retail partners, farmer's market locations, and taprooms here.

Note - although New England locations Waltham Popcorn and The Kettle Boys are also named in Taste of Home's feature, they have since closed.

As a father of four, my mornings are always a bit hectic. I enjoy being an early bird; however, I rarely have the time to prep a good breakfast. Therefore, I was quite thrilled to see that Tasting Table recognized three New England restaurants for having the best breakfast sandwiches in the country. I'm always looking for a good quick breakfast.

A morning in my world usually consists of a sunrise workout, followed by a scramble to get myself and the kids out of the house. Then I embark on an hour-long drive to the office. On the weekends, it's taking one of my kids to their sports game. Let's focus on the latter for a moment.

While I am more lenient on my breakfast choice (a banana or shake will do), I insist upon a healthy start for the little guys. Driving them all around New England on weekends requires a few drive-thru meals that you eat in the car. My preference is for the kids to have something substantial, with a protein they enjoy. A breakfast sandwich is often the choice.

The perfect breakfast sandwich should follow three simple rules. It's quick, both to order and make. It's fresh (not a microwaved egg slab pulled out of plastic). Finally, it's a balanced hand-held item that is not too heavy, processed or sugar-filled.

When trekking through interstates and unfamiliar towns at sunrise, it's easy to settle upon the quickest Dunkin' Donuts. Now, there are some other options that you (and I) should know about. These three New England restaurants ranking among the best breakfast sandwiches in the country.

Before we get into the list, it is necessary to give one other shout-out. The Portland, Oregon establishment named by Tasting Table has both the best restaurant and sandwich name. The "Yolko Ono" by Fried Egg I'm In Love.

Sofra Bakery and Café in Cambridge, MA, is the first stop. Tasting Table calls out "Geno's Egg Sandwich." This is a brioche bun filled with egg topped with halloumi cheese, feta butter, tomato concasse, and spicy green cilantro.

Next, we hop on 95 North and pull into the Elephantine Bakery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Here the selected breakfast sandwich is called the "Egg Simit." It's the healthiest of the three choices based on pure ingredients. This sandwich consists of egg, hummus, beat pistachio spread, feta, and spinach on a sesame simit.

I actually had a very hard time securing a quick bacon, egg, and cheese this past spring while in Maine for a lacrosse tournament. Now I know I need to go to a coffee shop next time. Tandem Coffee has something so good, it doesn't even need a clever name. "The Breakfast Sandwich" is simply egg, American cheese, and smoked paprika. However, when you rest it upon a homemade buttermilk biscuit, you reach a new level.