The Princess and the Frog

By a cousin's request, here is a popcorn recipe fit for a frog!...er...princess!... frogcess? prin...og.... hmmm...

*awkward jazz hands*


Jazzy Gumbo Popcorn

3 T rendered bacon grease
1/2 c. popcorn kernels
Packet of Gumbo/Creole Seasoning to taste

OR

Make your own*!
*this recipe makes 1 3/4 cups (22 tablespoons) obviously you will not need all of this but you can put it in a jar and use it for other recipes... which I am sure you put together all by your smart self. 

2 T onion powder
2 T garlic powder
2 T dried oregano
2 T dried basil
1 T dried thyme
1 T black pepper
1 T white pepper
1 T cayenne pepper
5 T paprika
3 T salt
1 T celery powder
1 T savory

and then...
1 T butter (or more if you're crazy like that)
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp tabasco sauce/hot sauce (or more if...again... you're crazy like that)

Directions
Add the oil and popcorn kernels to a heavy 3- to 4-quart saucepan with a lid. Shake the pan to coat the kernels with oil. The kernels should cover the bottom of the pan in a single layer.

Cover the pan and place it over medium high heat. When the corn begins to pop, lift it slightly from the heat and shake the pan every so often (does not have to be continuous), holding the lid in place, until the popping begins to slow, about 3 to 4 minutes. Pour into bowl or bag big enough to toss further ingredients.

Melt the butter. Then mix in Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Sprinkle Gumbo/Creole seasoning to taste and toss. Now go kiss a frog, princess, you're ready for a movie!

Lilo and Stitch

This was another movie I actually had never seen. Thanks to Netflix, that has now been taken care of. It was pretty cute! I <3 Hawaii so I am really wanting to do this justice. SPAM flavor anyone?!? Just kidding ;-) Actually, we're going a bit more movie specific, not just Hawaii themed. Nothing against spam. I found a recipe that involves peanut butter and so incorporated that to create....

Popcorn for Pudge
Peanut Butter Coconut Popcorn

3 T coconut oil
1/2 c. popcorn kernels

2 or 4 generous tablespoons agave syrup*
1/4 or 1/2 C peanut butter*
pinch fine sea salt, to taste depending how salty you would like it

*You can range it from a light peanut butter flavor to super PB fan levels, just keep the ratios about the same and you're golden. If you want to be even more coconutty, sub coconut oil for the agave! I actually used honey and it worked out good, too. Even better, do 50/50 of honey and coconut oil. Now you're getting fancy pants.

Directions

For the popcorn, add the oil and popcorn kernels to a heavy 3- to 4-quart saucepan with a lid. Shake the pan to coat the kernels with oil. The kernels should cover the bottom of the pan in a single layer.

Cover the pan and place it over medium high heat. When the corn begins to pop, lift it slightly from the heat and shake the pan every so often (does not have to be continuous), holding the lid in place, until the popping begins to slow, about 3 to 4 minutes. Pour into bowl or bag big enough to toss further ingredients.

Heat the peanut butter and agave (or coconut oil or honey or both) on medium low heat in a nonstick pan briefly, just until melted and completely combined. Be sure to stir the entire time so the mixture doesn’t burn.

Pour this mixture evenly over the bowl of popcorn and immediately stir with large spoons and toss like a salad until the popcorn is evenly coated. Be careful not to crush the popcorn while stirring. Sprinkle on the sea salt to taste.

From the original recipe creator: "If you used the smaller quantities listed to produce a lovely peanut butter treat, but now decided you want to amp it up, it’s not too late to make another small batch of peanut butter agave on the stove and toss it again to intensify the flavor!"

Now go ride that Hawaiian roller coaster you crazy kids! 

Finding Nemo

Ok, I know I said that How to Train Your Dragon started it all, but my friend Aiyani's request for a Finding Nemo recipe also sort of started it all...again...

Learning new things is very motivating for me. And solving puzzles. For the most part, my recipes probably won't look all fancy pants with carmel drizzles and gobs of candy. It's about the flavor.

When she asked me for a Finding Nemo recipe my brain was stumped. EVERYTHING IS A FISH! Technically, sea life... but fishy in flavor. You get the idea.

So since you can only go so far with sushi and popcorn my thought was to look into Australian cuisine, the movie taking place there and all.

I found this: http://www.dining-downunder.com/

Snazzy....

I saw a lot of lemon myrtle and alpine pepper and so.... I cheated. A bit. Can you blame me? I am not going to have access to those seasonings in a very immediate way. I have a halloween deadline and a baby due any time in the next three weeks. It's basically lemon and pepper. Bam. 

Oh and one has to use seaweed. It IS the ocean.

(As a side note, my friend wanted savory but if you're not feeling the savory, a "sweet" option would be to incorporate the influence of the Wattleseed, a native Australian flavor that is coffee, chocolate and hazelnut-ish according to Chef Cherikoff http://www.slideshare.net/cherikoff/flavors-of-australia)

42 Wallaby Way Sydney Popcorn
1/2 c. popcorn
3 T canola oil
1 tsp Braggs Sea Kelp Delight Seasoning
1 1/2 tsp Lemon Pepper
Spritz of Grapeseed Oil (Optional)

Directions

Add the oil and popcorn kernels to a heavy 3- to 4-quart saucepan with a lid. Shake the pan to coat the kernels with oil. The kernels should cover the bottom of the pan in a single layer.

Cover the pan and place it over medium high heat. When the corn begins to pop, lift it slightly from the heat and shake the pan every so often (does not have to be continuous), holding the lid in place, until the popping begins to slow, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Pour into bowl. Spritz and season to taste.