When you're in the mood for popcorn, throwing a bag in the microwave and hitting the “start” button is a quick and easy way to enjoy the snack.

But many pre-popped popcorns are expensive and loaded with unnecessary chemicals, along with plenty of fat and salt. Why not save some calories and some cash by making own microwave popcorn from scratch?

It's easier than you'd think! Just mix half a cup of popcorn kernels with one teaspoon of oil, pour the kernels into a brown paper lunch bag and sprinkle in some salt. Fold the top of the bag over a couple of times, place it in the microwave, and zap it for about two and a half minutes or until you hear two seconds in between pops. Take the bag out, pour the popped corn into a bowl or just trim off the top of the bag, and enjoy!

While this recipe will yield you a pretty basic popcorn, feel free to spice it up any way you like: add a sprinkle of sugar for some kettle corn, cumin and garlic powder for a south-of-the-border flavor, or even a few shakes of parmesan cheese.

You can find this story and many more recipes and fun ideas like this one by visiting Simplemost.