Popcorn & Nuts for quick Party Food!

The theme over at IHCC this week is Party Treats...and we are using Nigella Lawson recipes as our guide! Many of you know that I have been insanely busy working since college football began...and probably will continue to be until the last (bowl!?) game is played. I am trying to come around visiting as much as possible, but please excuse me if I seem absent or sporadic over the next couple of months. Sometimes I have to click, drool and move on to the next tasty spot in a speedy fashion. Although my boys are the MSU Spartans (go State!), I work for ND Fighting Irish and hope that they do well...because it means that our whole city does well...and I can continue to pay my bills. Except that they are going down this coming Saturday when the Spartans charge into town!!! I knew I wanted to make a quick Tailgating at home -slash- Game Snack and I found 2 such recipes from Nigella. I am pretty much addicted to nuts. I like popcorn. So, nuts and popcorn it is! They're both quick & easy enough that I can rush home and whip some up between the end of a shift...and the beginning of a game...about 1/2 hour, usually.

The Union Square Cafe's Bar Nuts

from Nigella Bites by Nigella Lawson

2 1/4 c. assorted unsalted nuts

2 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh rosemary

1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

2 tsp. dark brown sugar

2 tsp. Maldon or other sea salt

1 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Toss the nuts (if bought separately) and spread out on a large baking sheet. Toast in the oven till they become light golden brown, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the rosemary, cayenne, sugar, salt and melted butter. I happened to have a can of assorted mixed nuts, but they were salted...so I just cut back on the amount of salt I added in the mix...just a couple small pinches.

Thoroughly toss the nuts in the spiced butter and serve warm. And once you eat these, you will never want to stop. So true Nigella, so true. Party Popcorn ...see...party...it fits...totally

from Nigella Express by Nigella Lawson

yield: 12 c.

2 Tbs. vegetable oil which I omitted because I was using my microwave air popper

1 c. unpopped popcorn

4 Tbs. butter

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 tsp. ground cumin

2 tsp. ground paprika

4 tsp. sea salt

4 tsp. sugar

Put the oil into the biggest pan you have with a lid over high heat, add the popcorn, and quickly put on the lid. Let the popcorn pop, shaking the pan every now and then to keep the kernels moving. You will hear it, but don't be tempted to look, unless you want to get shot at tee hee, and once it has stopped popping, take it off the heat. Or simply put it in your microwave popper...probably in two steps because it only holds up to half a cup...and pop it without the added oil.

Melt the butter with the spices, in another pan or microwave that too add salt and sugar and pour it over the popcorn. Put everything into a large paper shopping bag. Fold the top over to hold in the popcorn ...or toss in huge bowl covered with a large plate and held tight! Shake until popcorn is thoroughly coated with spicy butter. Serve.

Serve nice and pretty...or throw in bowls, grab a cold beer and turn on the game! If you've created one of Nigella's recipes in a Party fashion this week...or could make it relate somehow, please join us at I Heart Cooking Clubs and add a link to your post! The more people at the party, the merrier! And while you're there...check out the theme for next week.

I also wanted to take a minute to say !!!YIPPEE!!! girlichef is today's Foodista Featured Blog of the Day! Click on the button if you'd like to check it out! Many thanks to Foodista for this awesome recognition.