You can use this sugar mix for so many other things, too. From a sweetener for cereal, sprinkled over cake or ice cream. It keeps for a while, so if you're going to make it, you may as well make a big batch and keep it in an airtight container.
Spiced Sugar and Christmas Popcorn
Get out your measuring spoons, your grater and a big bowl. Here are the ingredients:
3 fresh bay leaves
2 oranges, finely grated zest of
2 lemons, finely grated zest of
6 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 gratings whole nutmeg
1 vanilla pod, halved lengthways
2 lbs caster sugar
Olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
Popcorn kernels
6 tablespoons spiced sugar
Whack the bay leaves, orange and lemon zest and all of your spices into a food processor and give it a good whiz. Once that's well blended add your sugar and whiz again so you've got a lovely spiced sugar. Because there's quite a bit of moistness in the zest and vanilla pod it's a good idea to pour the sugar onto a baking tray, spread it out evenly then leave it to dry for a few hours.
Once the sugar is nice and dry, pass it through a sieve to catch any larger pieces of spices. Discard anything left behind in the sieve then put your sieved sugar into an airtight container, where it will keep happily for ages.
Spiced Christmas popcorn
Popcorn only takes a few minutes to make but it smells, sounds and tastes brilliant; it's a great thing to have going on in your home.
Put some oil and your butter in a large pan over a high heat. Once the butter has melted, add the popcorn and stir well to coat the kernels. Put the lid on and leave it for a few minutes. It will take a few minutes to get going.
As the popcorn gets going give the pan a shake every 30 seconds or so to make sure the kernels all get popped. Put your spiced sugar in a large bowl and when the popcorn is ready add it to the bowl, quickly toss it and stir it into the sugar so the hot popcorn picks up those lovely spiced flavors.
Serve the popcorn in a big bowl or in little bowls set around the house.
Gift Idea: If you're feeling a bit creative you can divide the popcorn between some little sandwich bags, tie them with ribbons then give them out as a bit of a Christmas treat to adults and kids. If the sugar settles on the bottom of the bag just give the bag a shake before tucking in.
Source: Jamie Oliver
Castor Sugar is very fine sugar. You can make it by running granulated sugar through your coffee grinder.