CHEF JEFF -- ONE BYTE AT A TIME: Maple and Spiced Popcorn with Walnuts

Some things are just better made the old-fashioned way.

Maple and Spiced Popcorn with Walnuts

¼ cup canola or peanut oil

¼ cup popcorn

1 cup walnut pieces, toasted

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

1½ cups pure maple syrup

½ teaspoon fine sea salt

½ teaspoon maple extract (optional)

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground ginger

Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat oil, 3 popcorn kernels in heavy sauce-pan with cover over high heat. When kernels pop, add rest of popcorn, re-cover, remove pot from heat for 30 seconds. Return to heat, crack lid, shaking pan a little until popping slows. Transfer popcorn to baking sheet to cool Stir in nuts. Melt butter in heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add syrup, salt. Bring to boil. Cook without stirring until thermometer registers 300 degrees. Remove from heat, stir in maple extract, cinnamon, ginger. Pour over popcorn, stirring with oiled spatula. Cool. Break into bite-size pieces, serve.

Yield: About 9 cups.

Grab more food tidbits at the Chef Jeff blog at GrandForksHerald.com.