Food they’llactuallyeat

Desi Jacks

RECIPE COURTESY OF PREETI MISTRY, JUHU BEACH CLUB

The next time you take your kid out to the ballgame, whether it’s Little League or the Giants or A’s, don’t forget the Desi Jacks. This riff on Cracker Jack comes from Oakland’s Juhu Beach Club, a restaurant in the hip Temescal neighborhood that offers fresh takes on Indian street food. The snack includes peanuts and pistachios and, like Cracker Jack, has a sweet coating and packs a surprise — in this case, chili powder. The best part? The spices can be adjusted, so your little slugger doesn’t have to handle any more heat than he wants to. Adults will love to snack on Desi Jacks, too, so bring extra.

INGREDIENTS

6 quarts cooked popcorn

¼ cup ghee (clarified butter, or substitute melted butter)

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon red chili powder

1 cup pistachios

4 cups peanuts

2 tablespoons kosher salt

¼ cup vegetable oil

2 cups brown sugar

2 cups light corn syrup

2 tablespoons Maldon sea salt

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

2 Silpat mats

Combine popcorn with ghee, half the ground cumin, half the red chili powder, salt to taste.

Combine pistachios and peanuts with vegetable oil, half the ground cumin, half the red chili powder, salt to taste.

Sugar thermometer

Spread on sheet pan. Roast for 10-15 minutes at 350 F, until golden brown.

On high heat, cook brown sugar, corn syrup. Stir with sugar thermometer every few minutes until mix reaches 250-268 F

Stir nuts and popcorn into caramel. Put saucepan into oven at 350 F for 10 minutes.

Onthe water

Cool off during the hot summer months at Lafayette Reservoir The possibilities are nearly limitless. Want to fish? Take the boat out? Bike? Roller skate? You can do all of that here, and then some. Rowboats and pedal boats are available to rent at the activity center, and the area has picnic sites and a playground. The reservoir is off Highway 24, a mile from the Lafayette BART station.

For details, including information about fees and hours when bicycles, roller skates and scooters can be used, call 925-284-9669.