These Two Pantry Items Took My At-Home Movie Nights to the Next Level
Well, the cold weather is finally here, and instead of bar hopping and lounging in the park, these days, it’s pretty tempting to plop down on the couch, put on some Netflix, and have a cozy movie night at home. (Plus, there’s nothing quite like the rush of canceling plans — IYKYK.) However, in my house, when we do movie nights, we do them the right way. I’m talking about a big dinner, beers, mood lighting, snacks, and — of course — hot chocolate and popcorn. After all, getting to loaf around in sweatpants, pause the movie whenever you want, and indulge in a variety of snacks are what makes viewing from the comfort of the couch so much superior to heading to the theater, IMO. And recently, my girlfriend and I have been enjoying two delicious pantry items on movie nights that have taken our at-home movie nights to the next level: the Hot Cocoa Bundle and Jalapeño Ranch Popcorn Seasoning from Savory Spice.
What Are the Hot Cocoa Bundle and Jalapeño Ranch Popcorn Seasoning?
If you’re looking to make the ultimate cup of hot chocolate this winter, look no further than the Hot Cocoa Bundle. It comes with everything you need — except a festive mug — including Dutch Cocoa Powder, Cinnamon Sugar, and Peppermint Vanilla Bean Sugar. Just add hot milk or water to the cocoa powder in a ratio of your choosing, and sprinkle some sugar in your drink (or you can line the rim of your mug!) and you’re good to go. To enjoy the Jalapeño Ranch Popcorn Seasoning, just make a bowl of popcorn like you normally would, season it to your liking, and give the bowl a solid toss. That way, you don’t have to rely on pre-seasoned popcorn to get the exact level of flavor you’re looking for.
Why I Love the Hot Cocoa Bundle and Jalapeño Ranch Popcorn Seasoning
Look, while I love Swiss Miss, Dutch Cocoa Powder is such a step up, and it really blows your average grocery store hot chocolate out of the water. And, as someone who doesn’t love sweets, it takes a lot for me to come around to chocolate-based products, but during the colder months of the year, I can’t seem to get enough. As for the popcorn seasoning, I mean, who doesn’t love all things ranch? You can definitely enjoy this on your popcorn — which I highly recommend — but you can also top off plenty of other snacks with the seasoning, including fries and side dishes. Plus, you can add the jalapeño ranch powder to sour cream to make a delicious party dip. And, though they don’t come in a bundle, buying both is a great way to ensure that your movie nights (or your loved ones’ movie nights) are perfect every time.
So, as the nights get colder and longer, why not tuck in with a nice cup of hot chocolate, some out-of-this-world popcorn, and an eight-hour John Wick marathon a nice holiday movie? There’s really no better way to spend winter evenings than that!
Buy: Hot Cocoa Bundle, $21.99 (normally $31.79)
Buy: Jalapeño Ranch Popcorn Seasoning, $11.99