Welcome to the inaugural post for Movies & Munchies!!
Movies & Munchies is a new group of film and foodie aficionados. A lot of us are immigrating over from the old Food ‘n Flix group but we’re welcoming a lot of new members, too. (For more information, check out our Facebook page.)
Amy’s Cooking Adventures is hosting the first round for January with Ocean’s 11. 
You can read Amy’s announcement post here.
When I first saw this announcement, I really had to think about what food I remembered from seeing this film a couple (or three or four) times before. Nothing came to mind. Then I started re-watching it.
I broke the food and beverage down into what beverages were featured, what food items and then finally what Rusty (Brad Pitt) was noshing on throughout. Here’s the list.
- Complimentary cocktails in casino, whiskey at the lounge (after 1), whiskey at the celebrity tutorial (plus sparkling water), coffee at diner, Dr. Pepper, martini, wine
- Salade niçoise poolside at Reuben’s with Bloody Marys
- orange
- cheese skewers (ala Edible Arrangements) and fruit bowl
- ziti or penne pasta (or pasta salad maybe)
What Rusty is seen eating and drinking:
- Nachos
- Whiskey
- Soda and popcorn
- Some yellowish cocktail in a stemmed glass
- Fruit cup (or different sorbets)
- Salad something
- Tootsie pop
- Shrimp cocktail
- Redbull
- Ice cream
- Candy (or peanuts)
- Hamburger
I knew what I wanted to make as soon as I saw Rusty exit the circus and throw a popcorn container into the back of his convertible—popcorn. (I will say that nachos were a close second.)
My sister gave us some homemade popcorn spice along with a bag of old school popcorn—you know, the kind you cook on the stove with oil in a big-lidded saucepan. 
This is not Orville Redenbacher or Jiffy Pop. This is honest-to-goodness the best popcorn you will ever eat.
First make the spice.
Cajun Popcorn Spice
Perfect for a Movies & Munchies night.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 T. paprika
- 1 T garlic powder
- 1 T. onion powder
- 1 T. dried thyme
- 1 t. black pepper
- 1 t. dry basil
- 1 t. dried oregano
- 1/2 to 1 t. cayenne pepper
- 1/2 T. fine salt
Instructions
- Mix all spices together in spice grinder or mini food processor. Pulse quickly to mix spices and to break up the leaves of the herbs.
- Adjust amount of cayenne and salt to taste.
- Sprinkle on popcorn.
Yield: 1/3 cup
Next, pop your corn—old school style.
- In a large saucepan with a lid, heat about 2 T. oil (your choice) in the pan. You can use olive oil but I usually use canola oil.
- Add two popcorn kernels
- As soon as the kernels pop, add 1/3 cup of popcorn.
- Put on the lid and shake until you hear no more popping.
- Remove from heat and add 1 T. melted butter and as much seasoning as you like. Toss to coat.
- Serve with napkins.
I can’t tell you how good this stuff is! Really.
Whip up some spice, pop up some corn, grab Ocean’s 11 and enjoy Movies & Munchies. It’s a great caper movie with great star power and great dialogue!
Join us in February when Sue (from Palatable Pastimes) is hosting The French Dispatch. I cannot wait to watch this one!
Popcorn sounds good, though I rarely eat it — afraid I’ll break a tooth or something. The spice mixture is a wonderful idea. We use the high-quality kernels but with an air popper.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Popcorn is a perfect choice for the first Movies and Munchies post. I really thought that Pitt was eating a pita in that final scene until Amy posted that Youtube video.
That’s a great looking spice mix! I usually do microwave popcorn (not the prepackaged stuff you buy; I simply put some kernels in a brown paper bag, seal it, and microwave it — cheaper and better). Need to try this spice mix on it! Thanks.
A great popcorn spice mix! We love an afternoon bowl of popcorn. YUM!
Glad I found this. I was sad to see Food ‘n Flix has ended.