Of all of the awards shows I love to watch (and I love to watch them all), the Oscars is my favorite. And it’s a great excuse to throw a party. Many of my friends do the “red carpet” thing for their own parties and ask guests to dress in their black-tie best. But I prefer watching in comfy clothes and snacking on simple but satisfying nibbles. After all, it’s a very long show.

This year, the 85th Academy Awards air 6 p.m. Sunday on ABC, and for my viewing party, I am going to make popcorn the old-fashioned way – on the stovetop – and flavor the hot kernels three different ways. Everyone loves popcorn, and there is no other food that is so closely associated with movies. There are basically two ways to top popcorn – wet and dry.

Let’s start with wet toppings, such as melted butter. Melted butter is always a crowd pleaser, but you have to make that version just before serving or else it gets soggy. Plus, buttered popcorn is always best hot. Other wet toppings, such as melted chocolate, should be applied to popcorn spread flat on a baking sheet, then allowed to cool. Otherwise it becomes soggy.