Caramel Corn

My family loves caramel corn. I always make it for Christmas Eve when we watch our traditional movie, "Muppet's Christmas Carol".

CARAMEL CORN 

(serves 10)

Ingredients:

*3 1/2 quarts popped popcorn, (about 1/2 cup unpopped)

*1/2 cup butter

*1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

*1/4 cup light corn syrup

*1/2 teaspoon salt

*1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

*1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

~Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

~Grease well a 15x10 inch a roasting pan.

~Pop pop corn.

~Carefully remove all unpopped pop corn.

~Set popped corn aside.

~Melt butter in large heavy saucepan.

~Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt.

~Bring to a boil.

~Reduce heat and boil 5 minutes.

~Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and baking soda.

~Pour syrup over popcorn mixture and mix well.

~Spread in greased jelly roll pan (or roaster).

~Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

~Remove from oven and separate kernels when cool enough to handle.

~Store in airtight container or ziploc bag.

Variation:

`1 cup peanuts or pecans to caramel before adding to popped corn.