Sometimes I wish I had the life of luxury.
I can imagine it wouldn’t be hard to spend oodles of money on unnecessary (but easily justified) purchases.
Like fancy cars. Of course I need a Lamborghini to drive around. They’re economical.
Like eating ritzy dinners, consisting of fancy names like duck pate and beef terrine and gazpacho. (Speaking of gazpacho, never had it and can’t hate it, but really–cold soup? That’s just…not right.)
Like lavish vacations, because I want to be able to brag to people that I got my awesome, non-existent tan while vacationing in St. Barts, and we’ll be in Aspen for Thanksgiving. And Guy Fieri has agreed to cook the Thanksgiving… in our 3rd home, a modernized log cabin on 4 acres of land… with our helicopter landing pad on the roof.
Because those things, while to the untrained, uneducated person, could seem unnecessary, can be very, very justified in the life of a rich person.
While we all hate and judge rich people–you spent HOW MUCH on a pair of jeans?!–they find weird ways to make up excuses for their purchases.
“These jeans are of MUCH better quality. That’s why I spent $300 on them.”
Oh yeah, riiiight. Because the jeans with the horseshoe on the butt are made from more talented Malaysian children in the sweatshop, whereas my Forever 21 jeans came from the newbies.
Please.
Or, if you’ve ever been to a rich person’s house, you’ll find weird furnishings and things that you’d only find in a rich person’s house.
Like a baby grand piano, when no one plays piano. Or an elaborate-looking chocolate cake under a crystal cake dome, because obviously the maid makes those just to give the house some zest. Or weird statues, like of marble horses or hand-carved Asian villages.
It adds to the glamour of being rich.
Personally, and much to the howling laughter of my family, I think I’d be a modest rich person. Sure, I would throw down some cash on a relaxing, do-nothing vacation in some European country, but I don’t need the horseshoe-butt jeans (I like spending less than $40) and I really don’t want to eat duck liver, so that’s out of the question.
I would totally splurge on a nice, quaint house in a nice neighborhood, with cool furniture from Crate and Barrel and bake all the time. I’d be the cool rich person, not the snobby one who flaunts their money whenever possible.
But yeah, I’d probably have a Lambo. I’m partial to orange, but really, lime green or maybe a hot pink would work in a pinch…? See, I’m already being a cool rich person. I’m flexible.
Despite my richness, I wouldn’t sacrifice my semi-homemade approach to cooking and baking.
Do you actually think rich women have time to make organic spinach and goat chevre-filled tortelloni with a balsamic brown butter reduction sauce.
Wait, what?
Scratch that. Maybe I should make that. I’m kinda hungry now.
But while I’m making that for dinner (or at least attempting to; I’m not a rich girl yet and I need to preserve my manicure) at least I’ll have a semi-fancy, semi-rich-sounding dessert planned for after.
Fleur de Sel Caramel Corn.
Wait, WHAAAAAAT?
Yeah. Fleur de Sel Caramel Corn.
Fleur de Sel is a super yummy, coarser sea salt that adds tremendous flavor to lots of (fancy) foods, including this one. It’s pretty common to hear about fleur de sel being used with caramel, since caramel + salt = heaven.
Well folks, this is no exception.
And since popcorn is normally sweet and salty, why not elevate the flavor with more sweet and salty? Hello, caramel and fleur de sel. Welcome to popcorn, wanna make it more delicious?
Just so you know, caramel and fleur de sel said yes. And so they made this popcorn.
You should try it and tell all your friends you used fleur de sel caramel sauce. They’ll be like, “Wow, she really is rich! I bet her jeans are like, $500.” You don’t hafta tell them they’re from Target. Just nod your head, smile, and make your friends jealous over their new and improved rich friend with the fancy sounding salty dessert.
Don’t you wanna be that girl? I do.
Fleur de Sel Caramel Corn *adapted from Trader Joe’s College! Cookbook
1 3.2 pkg popcorn (I used some fat-free kettle corn, but any popcorn will do)
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup Trader Joe’s Fleur de Sel caramel sauce (if you don’t have a TJ’s near you, use a small jar of thick caramel sauce–none of the runny, syrupy, in a squeeze bottle kind)
1 cup mixed nuts, if desired
Pinch salt (or 1 tsp more if you’re using a different brand of caramel sauce)
1. Pop popcorn according to package directions and allow to cool.
2. In a large bowl, combine melted butter and caramel sauce with half of the popped popcorn and the mixed nuts. Gently stir to coat popcorn with the butter/caramel mixture. Add remaining popcorn and lightly toss to combine. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt (or the teaspoon, if not using TJ’s caramel sauce) and coat.
3. Spread popcorn mixture onto a lightly greased (or wax paper lined) baking sheet. Allow to harden completely. Store in an airtight container.
Can I just say YUM?
Or, if I’m being my rich alter-ego, shall I say, scrumptious?
And just so you all know, I would never spend $300 on a pair of jeans. Even if they were half off. But I would spend $3.49 on a jar of freaking AMAZING caramel sauce.
Also remember, I won’t judge you if you buy two… one to make this, of course, and one with the intention of making a second batch but realizing the jar of caramel by itself could overcome all the world’s problems if they only had a spoonful and just eat the rest of it by yourself.
Caramel sauce is like what a true best friend should be: it doesn’t judge you as you’re stuffing your face while watching TV; it doesn’t hate when you hog it all to yourself; and best of all, it has nothing to say about buying a completely separate jar of caramel sauce to polish off when no one’s looking.
Happy Popcorning!
xo, Hayley
Tagged: caramel, sweet and salty, treats
