say it with popcorn

My friend Robyn is The Gift Swami. She knows exactly what will make me squeal like a little girl. Like the above.

And the above.

And these.

And this. Sigh.

This list could get very long. My house and person are peppered with recent thoughtful birthday and Christmas Robyn gifts.

But this? A popcorn popping pan with a rotating handle thingy? YES. Because even though when I opened it at Christmas I had more of a puzzled-raised-eyebrow-reaction than a squeal she knew that I would love this Whirley-Pop. AND I DO. Oh, yes, yes, YES I do!

I love me some popcorn. I eat it several days a week. To the point where I can sense without looking the slightly judgy arched brow of my husband as I bring yet another late night bowl of popcorn to the TV. I've contemplated serving popcorn for dinner many times, but microwave popcorn doesn't really ping the meter for that. It's quick of course, and the brand we buy is relatively not horrible for you.

But THIS. Is popcorn excellence. It tastes so much better than microwave popcorn. It's funny how you forget what things are supposed to taste like. I hadn't popped corn on the stove since high school.

Thanks to Robyn, it's great to have control over the type of corn we pop (read non-GMO). We can use healthy oil (we use olive oil) and vary the amount according to preference, 1-3 TBS (we use two). The rotating bar thingy inside the pan keeps the popcorn from burning and gets almost every kernel popped. No waste. No blackened kernels stuck to the pan.

Half a cup of kernels fills this deep pot entirely with popped popcorn. Way more than you get in a microwave bag.

 
After it's done you can heap all the salt or flavorings you want on top but my current favorite is this sesame oil that Robyn sent with it. Mmm mm mm mm mm. Yummo. Michael likes Tabasco.

Granted, cleanup is more than just tossing a greasy bag in the trash. But the effort involved is minimal. I give the lid a quick sponge and rinse the pot out with water and give it a wipe with a paper towel. Done. It just stays on my counter top because we use it so often. NOW I can serve popcorn for dinner if I like. Thank you again, Robyn, for elevating our popcorn habits. I just had to share your gifting prowess.

Now I will totally copy you and give this magical thing to others.

I made clafoutis

I came into the kitchen this afternoon in a frowning funk over my less than successful sewing attempts. More on that later.

I realized four things:
1) I've never eaten clafoutis.
2) I don't know how to say clafoutis. Clah-FOOH-tee? Foux du fafa.
3) I happened to have all the ingredients handy, according to the recipe in my Joy Of Cooking* (except for the cognac).
4) I needed a Win and it might as well be a high-calorie, sweet, custardy Win.

Aren't those pretty eggs? My friend Tracy keeps chickens and I love the variety of colors and shapes the eggs come in. One day I'll be cool like Tracy.

*The gift that just keeps on giving, Robyn. My most useful cookbook by far.

 I also realized I could use a cherry pitter. My thumbnail is sore from prying out a million and a half cherry pits.

The finished product right from the oven (Win), before a coating of powdered sugar. The smell in the kitchen was a big payoff too.

Now, like any good southern girl I've made and put away a lot of fruit cobblers, but this is a different animal because of the eggs. Just as simple to make, but it's less like a gushy cake and more like a firm custard with cherries. I recommend eating it warm (with maybe a little extra sugar and some heavy cream splashed on if your sewing project is not going well). Remind me to give you my easiest fruit cobbler recipe ever sometime.