Pink Popcorn Pomanders

I was watching the 2010 Academy Awards. Of course one of the benefits of working from home is the ability to camp yourself in front of the television popcorn at the ready and taking in the important bits - you know, the red carpet. I was delighted to see Jack Donaghy hosting (yes I know his name is Alec Baldwin but he'll always be my TV husband Jack Donaghy) and that it would start with red carpet interviews.

The dresses were of course gorgeously couture and because it's the Oscars no-one goes quite as mad or edgy as they do at the Emmy's or Golden Globes. Sadly there was no Bjork and I don't think Bai Ling scores an invite and I've read Pamela Anderson is banned after her last drunk escapade (and yes I avidly read trashy mags, it's my guilty pleasure).

I grabbed a few kernels of popcorn and held them in my hand . A thought struck me as I stared at the flamboyant pleating of Vera Farmiga's dress, the pale pink of Anna Kendrick's dress and the pompom detailing on the hem of Zoe Saldana's dress and the rosette detailing on Charlize Theron's dress. I could make a pink popcorn ball shaped like a pomander! I'm sure that's not what the designers had in mind but before I could debate the pros and cons, I was heating butter, chocolate and marshmallows in a saucepan and hoping that it would all work. I had seen similar things on blogs where they used popcorn instead of rice bubbles to make crispy popcorn treats so I had an inkling that it might work.

Pomanders of course are aromatics balls that are hung in cupboards to give clothes a nice smell and whilst I don't recommend putting these in the cupboard, they do have a heavenly scent. The taste of these is sweet and rich. The popcorn isn't crispy though but it is moreish and rich and caramelly. I love the slight stickiness of the marshmallow and the sweetness from it combined with the white chocolate. I brought it over to share with my parents and even my mother who doesn't like popcorn finished a huge ball all to herself!

So tell me Dear Readers, what are your thoughts on this year's Oscars? Any surprises? Any red carpet wins or fails?

Pink Popcorn Pomanders

An Original Recipe by Not Quite Nigella

Makes 10-14 depending on size

• 1 cup popping corn

• 5 tablespoons oil

• 500 g/1pound pink and white marshmallows

• 200 g/7 ozs. white chocolate

• 60 g/2ozs butter

• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

• a few drops pink or red food colouring (optional)

• Sugar flowers to decorate

• pink ribbon cut into 15cms lengths or wooden disposable chopsticks

• oil to grease hands

• 30 g/1 oz. white chocolate

Step 1 - Heat oil in a large frying pan or saucepan and test out one kernal. If it spins in the oil then it is ready. Place the rest of the popcorn in the frypan and keep shaking the pan until the popping slows down.

Step 2 - In another large heavy based saucepan, heat the butter and chocolate until the chocolate has melted. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted.  Add a few drops of food colouring here if you'd like.

No, more melted than this-we want marshmallow lava. Yum marshmallow lava....drools

Step 3 - Place 10 cups of the popcorn (you can do it in 2-3 lots to make it easier) and mix until the popcorn is coated. Cool for a few minutes. Oil a baking sheet and then grease your hands and shape it into balls. Take a knife and slice a little slit in the centre to place the ribbon. Melt the chocolate and spread a little on the end of the ribbon that has bee folded over. Place in the slit and sit balls on the oiled baking sheet and leave to set. You may have to reshape the ball if it comes loose.