Friday, November 16, 2012

Election Edition



I am camped on my bed with my girls, watching election pundits, and playing games on electronic toys. The night seemed to call for a party of some kind. So I made some South of Beale popcorn, sliced some fruit and cheese, and poured a tall boozy drink

The popcorn is my version of this Memphis restaurant's treat. I saw the chef assemble the spice mix on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. In fact, I backed it up and watched about six times, estimating the measurements, and what follows is my best guess. Well, and my own tweak.


SOB Popcorn Spice

1/4 cup coconut sugar (original: brown sugar dehydrated and ground)
1/4 cup sea salt (original: kosher salt)
1/4 cup paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon granulated garlic

Place all ingredients in a small coffee grinder (I keep one just for non-coffee purposes) and grind into powder.

The restaurant showed the popcorn air popped, though I wondered whether they really popped enough with that dorm room popper to supply the whole restaurant! I popped mine in a large aluminum pot with a blend of coconut oil and grapeseed oil.

My election-survival drink tonight is an autumn-themed cider based treat:

20 ounces apple cider
4 ounces Jameson's whiskey
A splash of Bittershots butterscotch schnapps

Pour over ice and sip all evening.  And now, to tune in to Live Election Coverage on Comedy Central.