The film
The reason:
These are not baseballs. They're lumps of popcorn, a dusting of Parmesan and a lick of truffle, bound together like an island of misfit toys. It's worth noting; these do not contain real truffle. If you can afford real truffle in your popcorn, you're probably not making snacks. Your butler is.
But since truffle oil still carries a ghost of the truffle's flavor these treats nicely ape Oakland A's General Manager Billy Beane's philosophy of making cheap things work harder for you.
And for those with an oral fixation (Brad Pitt, seen once again on screen continuously chewing, I'm looking at you) they're the perfect snack to tide you over until the main event starts.
One thing to watch; pressing scalding hot balls of honey and oil together into balls can hurt; so you'll want to wear a glove. I went for a Marigold, but you may just have something left over from Little League that you can put back into rotation.
The way:Makes 8-10 balls. Excellent as a nibble with drinks.
Equipment: Plastic gloves, one baking tray lined with baking paper, one roasting dish, one saucepan and a heatproof spatula.
Shopping/foraging
7 cups plain popped popcorn
55 grams/ 2 ounces butter, cut into chunks
1/4 cup honey
1 tbsp truffle oil (or a little more, depending on how pungent your truffle oil is)
35 grams/ 1.25 ounces Parmesan, grated
Salt and black pepper
Here's how we roll
1. Preheat oven to 325°F/ 160 C. Put popcorn in a roasting tray and dust with Parmesan. Line a large baking sheet with baking paper .
2. Place the butter, honey and salt together in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the butter is melted. Turn up the heat and boil the mixture for one minute, stirring constantly. Then add the truffle oil and stir.
3. Pour the honey goo over the popcorn and cheese in the roasting pan and stir gently. Season well with salt and pepper. Don't be shy about either. Bake for five minutes, then stir, then return to the oven, bake for another five minutes, stir, then return to the oven for another five minutes (bake for 15 minutes in total). You want the popcorn to be golden.
4. Put on your rubber gloves and press small fistfuls of the hot popcorn goo into balls, clenching to make it stick. If the mixture becomes too hard to meld, return the tray to the oven for 30 seconds or so to soften.
5. Place the popcorn balls on a baking tray to cool. These will keep in Tupperware for up to two weeks.
For illustrated step by step instruction go here