the best caramel popcorn...ever!!

This recipe was given to me by a friend (thanks, Julie!) and has become a HUGE hit around my house. It is the best caramel popcorn I've ever had and everyone usually agrees!

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter (use the real stuff!!)
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light or dark corn syrup
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
6 quarts popped popcorn (usually about 3 bags)



1. Pop popcorn and spread in two 9x13 baking pans.



2. Melt butter in sauce pan. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then boil without stirring for 5 minutes. **



3. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla. Gradually pour over the popcorn and mix well.



4. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Break pieces apart.


5. Enjoy the deliciousness of the popcorn!!

(As you can see from this picture, the popcorn was eaten before I could even take a picture!)

**Make sure you bring this mixture to a boil slowly and allow it to boil on medium heat. If you bring it to a boil too quickly with the heat too high, you can easily burn it! I just may have done this before which may have resulted in a very burnt end product which may have ended up in the trash can. Maybe. Hmmm....