Pro-Bending Popcorn for "The Legend of Korra"

          Pro-bending is Republic City's most popular sport and the arena's stadium seating is always packed with eager and ecstatic fans hungry for some bending action. They're also hungry for snacks like popcorn which can be seen in so many pro-bending arena scenes in "The Legend of Korra". The popcorn looks pretty normal, like maybe only salted and buttered if anything, but I got to thinking wouldn't it be cool, and wouldn't it really be this way if the pro-bending arena was real, if the popcorn was seasoned according to the different bending styles and the groups they hail from? The recipes below are incarnations of that postulation; spicy for the Fire Nation, earthy for the Earth Kingdom, fishy for the Water Tribes, and a little fruity and sweet for the Air Nomads. Of course, there are no air benders in pro-bending yet, but someday. Someday! (Yes, Korra can air-bend but water is her skill in pro-bending. No cheating!)

Republic City's Pro-Bending Arena Popcorn

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Ingredients:
4 Bags Plain or Lightly Salted Popcorn, fully popped
Water Tribes:
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
2 Tbsp. Seaweed & Bonito/Fish Flake Furikake
(rice seasoning found in an Asian market or the Asian section of the grocery store)
2 tsp. Dashi Powder (optional)
Fire Nation:
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1 tsp. Taco Seasoning Powder
2 tsp. White Chili Seasoning Powder
1-2 Tbsp. Cooked Bacon, finely diced OR Real Bacon Bits (topping)
Earth Kingdom:
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
2 tsp. Pesto Mix Powder
1 tsp. Ranch Mix Powder
1/2 tsp. Mushroom Gravy Powder (w/o the little mushroom pieces)
Air Nomads:
1 Tbsp. Honey
2 Tbsp. Almond Meal/Flour (optional)
1-2 Tbsp. Crasins, finely chopped (topping)

Directions:
1. Make each seasoned popcorn one at a time (cleaning your bowls after each use). Empty one bag of fully popped popcorn into a large bowl with a lid, pour the oil or honey on top of the popcorn, & then secure the lid on the bowl & shake it until the popcorn is evenly coated. In a small bowl mix the dry ingredients (except in the case of the Air Nomad popcorn) & then sprinkle the seasonings over the popcorn. Put the lid on the bowl once again & shake until the popcorn is well coated with the seasonings. Now they're all done except for the Air Nomad popcorn!
2. Preheat your oven to 250ºF & spread the Air Nomad popcorn in a single layer on a large baking tray. Slide it into the oven on the middle rack & bake for about 15 minutes or until light & crispy. Serve the Pro-bending popcorn in separate bowls or in individual serving popcorn boxes or bags (the ones I used were near the popcorn in my local grocery store). Sprinkle the bacon bits over the Fire Nation popcorn & the crasins over the Air Nomad popcorn. As a real treat, conceal an electrified glove in each container!

* For more food from the world of "Avatar:TLA" & "Korra" click here! *