Chili Parmesan Popcorn | Secret Recipe Club

It feels like spring is here in the Bay Area. Our temperatures hit the mid 80’s on Saturday and it was certainly flip flop weather.  I know a lot of the country is experiencing extreme weather conditions whether it is rain, snow or cold AND we need rain so desperately. It got me excited that spring and summer are simply around the corner.  It is Secret Recipe Club reveal time again – can’t believe how fast a month goes.

Click "read more" below to continue post

This month I was assigned Nayna’s blog Simply Sensational Food and she lives in one of my favorite European countries – England.  She started her blog in 2008 as a way to showcase her recipes and deems herself a home cook.  She actually has two cookbooks on her blog that you can purchase – congratulations! She specializes in vegetarian delights. I have been to England about six times and always go to high tea when I am there along with seeing new sites.  We typically will stay at a flat in either Mayfair or Queens Gate area since it lets you live among the locals and the tube stations are easy jaunts to get anywhere you want to go.

One of my fondest memories of traveling to England was with my hubby and parents.  We were fortunate enough to take one of the last Concorde trips from New York to London.  It was a bucket list item for sure.  The trip took about 3 hours and 10 minutes and we traveled almost two and half times the speed of sound.  Although we went super sonic speeds, it felt like a normal flight.  Everyone was treated like a first class passenger with being served the finest wines, outstanding food on fine china, a cheese course and 20 year old ports along with glasses of champagne.  It is unfortunate that this super sonic airliner is no longer in business – such a magnificent way to travel to Europe!

After perusing Nayna’s blog for quite sometime, I finally settled on her Chili Popcorn.  I am a popcorn fanatic and was completely in the mood for it, when I stumbled upon her recipe.  She created her own chili oil where as I simply purchased it from the Asian isle at Safeway.  I adore popcorn that is popped over the stove and adorned with butter and parmesan cheese for that added richness.  Thank you Nayna for the inspiration!

Chili Parmesan Popcorn

Popcorn

3 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil

1 teaspoon Chili Oil

½ Cup White Corn Kernels

Chili Butter

4 Tablespoon Salted Butter

2 teaspoons Chili Oil (use less if too spicy)

Melt butter over low heat and stir in the chili oil.

Additions

½ teaspoon sea salt

¼ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Use a large pot with a lid to make the popcorn.  Add the vegetable and chili oil to the pan and heat on high.  Add one kernel to the oil and once it pops, lower the heat to medium high and add the other kernels.  Place the lid on top of the pot and shake frequently until all kernels pop.  Add to a large paper bag and toss with ½ teaspoon of sea salt and toss with the chili butter until well coated.  Add ¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese and toss.  Let cool and serve.

To check out other Secret Recipe Club recipes for March, click here