Caramel Corn

There are a zillion ways to make caramel corn, but I think mine is best!!

Ingredients:

pop corn (air popper!)

1/2 cup Karo syrup (or similar)

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup or 1 stick butter

1/2 t vanilla

1/2 t baking soda

(pinch salt optional)

 I have a large roasting pan and I simply air pop corn until it's filled to the top...

 place this in the oven set to 200-250 degrees f to warm while preparing caramel

 dump syrup, sugar and butter into large, clear glass dish and microwave approximately 5 minutes. Stop and stir ingredients at about the 1 minute point using a wooden spoon.

 Make sure the container is very deep because mixture bubbles up a lot while cooking--and be careful, it's super hot!! Also, watch carefully during this stage to avoid burning.

Carefully remove container from microwave and add vanilla and baking soda and stir vigorously--mixture will foam up toward the top of container as it takes on a milky caramel appearance.

 Pour this mixture over the popcorn and using the wooden spoon, stir to moisten all the popped corn. Bake for 1 - 1.5 hours turning every 10 - 15 minutes. When it's done dump it into a paper bag and break up the larger clumps. Can be stored in plastic AFTER completely cool--if too soon, it will get really soggy!

Enjoy!