Moveable Feast: Hot Buttered Rums and Healthier Popcorn

’ve enjoyed our recent, inordinately warm weather, but I love Georgia’s crisp, cool winters. I’m thrilled that it finally feels like winter, and I’m grateful for the excuse to go all out hearty and savory in the kitchen – stews and soups; roasts and crockpot creations; casseroles. Even more, cold weather means warm libations, and this year, I’ve decided to try many different hot drinks. We started by ending our busy, brisk weekend with mulled hot buttered rums, curled up under blankets on our couch.

Hot Buttered Rums

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 – 1 1/2 cup water

1 cup dark rum

For the mulling spices, you can do a number of things. I had some pre-mixed containing cinnamon, clove, allspice, citrus peels and a bit of lavender. I make small bundles in cheese cloth, tying them tightly with twine. I just let them float, tasting periodically so I can remove it when it’s spiced to my taste.

How to prepare:

Combine your softened butter, sugar and vanilla extract in a bowl. In a saucepan bring your water to a boil. If you like, you can add a bit of apple juice at this step. Put a dollop of your vanilla butter into a mug, Add the rum and water.

General consensus was they needed a bit more sugar and maybe a bit more butter.

Healthy Popcorn

On a totally unrelated note, I recently read an article linking the liners of microwave popcorn to infertility. I don’t remember much about it but it prompted me to Google healthier ways to make instant popcorn.

It’s actually quite simple. Combine one cup of corn kernels, 1 teaspoon of quality oil and your seasonings – I like cracked black pepper, salt and garlic powder – in a brown paper bag. Toss and microwave for around 3:00 minutes. It’s best to listen. When the frequency slows, take it out.