Something I tend to keep in my cupboard is a jar of vanilla sugar. I rarely buy vanilla pods but when I do I tend to make the most of them and keep the used and dried pods in a jar of caster sugar. After a few weeks I have a lovely jar of vanilla flavoured and scented sugar. It's great for using in baking or anywhere you use sugar, even just in your coffee. I did go through a phase of having none as kids kept eating it but they are over that phase now luckily. When the jar gets any used I just top up the sugar and give it a shake and put back in cupboard ready for the next time.
I was asked for popcorn today to eat while watching a DVD. i wasn't in the mood for doing a caramel popcorn and went simple. And it turned out great.
2 tablespoons oil, vegetable or sunflower is fine
100grams popcorn kernels
65 grams vanilla sugar
This turned out to leave a fair bit of the sugar in bottom of the bowl so next time will try just 50 grams
Heat a large saucepan that ha a good fitting lid over a medium heat.Then add the popcorn kernels in one layer and put the lid on. When the popping starts shake the pan every few seconds so none of the popcorn burn.
When the popping slows down to one pop every couple of seconds or so we need to work a bit fast and tip the popcorn into a large bowl and sprinkle on and stir through the sugar while it is all still warm as it will help the sugar stick to the popcorn.
Then just sit down and enjoy it. My youngest says the sugar in bottom of the bowl reminds him of doughnuts.
From starting weighing things out to walking the bowl into the boys watching a DVD this took less then 5 or 6 minutes. Would have taken me a lot longer to walk to shops to buy some and cost me a lot more to buy than make.
