Since I have been on orders to take it easy and elevate my feet for the last several weeks a lot more emphasis has been the simple things. You see, I am finding myself more easily bored these days, as soon as any work I have to do is done for the day I find myself staring out the window thinking about what Jeff Jefferies saw out his window in Hitchcock’s “Rear Window”. So to avoid gross boredom, little things like movie night have become much more of an event. The important elements of movie night are a classic movie such as “Casablanca” (I would have chosen Laszlo hands down) or “North by Northwest”, a nice bottle of wine or an exciting new beer (have you tried the Belgian sours?), and one stellar batch of popcorn.
When I was a kid we had movie night. My parents would serve sliced apples with cheese and a big bowl of popcorn dressed with garlic and parmesan cheese. I always really loved those nights spent with my parents and siblings cackling away to movies like “The Gods Must Be Crazy” or “North Avenue Irregulars” and snacking away on these yummy treats. So naturally even today when I plan a movie night some type of specially flavored popcorn is always on the menu.
My current favorite is a popcorn dressed with warm olive oil and a lovely Yemeni herb blend called zhug. I was introduced to zugh by Shuli the proprietor of the local spice company Whole Spice when I stopped by his Oxbow Market shop. Shuli had me tasting all sorts of lovely, vibrant spices, one being zhug which is a delicious blend of chile tianjin, garlic, coriander, cumin, salt, cardamon, clove, cilantro. The flavor is completely unexpected and just plain wonderful.
One thing to remember when using zhug, as with any dried herbs is that the flavor needs to be woken up. Putting a smattering of dried herbs on top of something without cooking it first does not help a dried herb reach its full potential. I simmer it gently in olive oil for a little while before drizzling it over the freshly popped popcorn rather than just sprinkling it on dry. The difference in flavor is amazing.
Do you have any favorite movie night snacks or movie recommendations (no David Lynch please Leslie), I’d love to hear them?
This is a little off subject, but I finally started a page for The Endive Chronicles on Facebook so if you are on FB, I’d love it if you checked it out!
Popcorn with Olive Oil and Zhug
1/4 cup Canola Oil
1 1/2 cups Popcorn Seeds
1/4 cup Olive Oil
3 TBS (or so) Zhug
Sea Salt
Pop your popcorn on the stove according to the manufacturers instructions.
Warm the olive oil and zhug in a small saucepan over low heat for about 5-10 minutes. If it gets too hot turn it off early. After 5-10 minutes turn the heat off and allow to sit for a little while for the flavors to meld. Then gently warm again before pouring over the popcorn. Be careful when pouring the warm oil over the popcorn, splashing oil can be problematic . . . and painful.
Yum! I often top my popcorn with warm olive oil, fleur de sel, and fresh ground pepper. Pretty basic, but also very good. This isn’t for everyone, but…I have these nights when I MUST watch Oklahoma! I love the color and the songs, especially when Charlotte Greenwood is at the train station and they sing “Kansas City” and dance. Yes, it is true…
O-K-L-H-O-M-A, Oklahoma! Denise, I love that movie! Call me a nerd, but I love almost anything Rogers and Hammerstein. Although I should mention that “The King and I” makes my stomach turn.
YUM!
Am now on a mission to find me some of this heavenly sounding spice mix.
We frequently do movie night and popcorn is always on the menu. Not always dressed so fancy for a night in though…lol
One thing I would love is a recipe for the kettle corn that I ate in New Orleans a few years back. It was salty and sweet and buttery and crunchy all at the same time and utterly addictive. Have tried to recreate it, but think I may need American ingredients rather than french…sigh.
Babette’s Feast, Like Water for Chocolate, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Goonies (Chunk and Ice Cream!), Adam’s Rib…?! Just for starters, tho’ I LOVE Casablanca too. Also, Cyrano de Bergerac (the Depardieu version), 8 Women, Tous les matins du Monde, Le Bossu (The Hunchback) which are fabulous French movies. Cinema Paradiso, which is wonderful.
If you like musicals – Cry Baby and Hairspray, both John Waters movies and very good as well as the Rocky Horror Picture show (but you have to dress up… especially Barney!)
Debbie, I hope you find it, it is wonderful!
Griffin, I am pleased to see that Goonies is on your list, as it is close to the heart of every American in Generation Y. It was also filmed in Cannon Beach, Oregon where I spent many a summer playing Goonies at the base of Haystack Rock.
Dude- I knew I liked you for some reason… I grew up dragging hunks of fresh Arabic pita bread and bagels through puddles of olive oil and dipping them in Zhug. Breating in that aroma is just one of those “Ratatouille” movie moments where you land right back on a hillside in Jericho watching the fishermen go out at sunrise after being out all night long, crawling through the city with friends. Bread on the beach, Man. Thats what its all about!
Jen, I am glad I could be of service! You are the first person I have met who has even heard of zhug. I also like it with olive oil fried eggs and a little tomato paste.
Yep- the oil and eggs are a magical combination. Must have Mom send some out in the next care package- I’m craving it!