Caramel Corn

As fall is fast approaching, I thought it would a perfect time to share a YUMMY caramel corn recipe!

This is a fun one to invite your kids over when you add the baking soda to the mixture (think fourth grade volcano science project).

DIRECTIONS:

**DO NOT pre-heat your oven (don’t ask me why, but don’t do it)

1. Pop 8 quarts of popcorn (and I mean home-made popping here….none of that microwave stuff. To do this, get a quart sized sauce pan with a lid, some kernels and canola oil. Put just enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan and place two kernels in the pan. When those two pop, your oil is hot enough. Pour enough kernels in pan to cover the bottom of the pan,place lid on, and wait for the magic to happen. You will need to do this several time to get the amount of popcorn you need). For making the caramel corn, I usually spread the popcorn out on a few baking sheets.

2. You could NOT make caramel corn and just melt some butter in the same pan and pour it over your popcorn, add some seasoned salt, and eat it up!!!!! Trust me, “yummy in my tummy” (thanks Coookie Monster).  

3. If you want to make the caramel corn, this is your next step!!! In a saucepan (larger than you think for the rising action that will take place later), combine the following:

• 1/2 lb (2 sticks) of butter
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white karo syrup

4. Bring to a roiling boil and then continue to let it boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

5. Take it off the heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of baking soda. WARNING: Get your kids! This will make the mixture RISE and they always think this is sooo cool! The first time I did this, I didn’t use a big enough pan and the mixture went all over my oven……..not good.

6. Pour the mixture over the popcorn and mix it up.

7. Turn on oven to 200 degrees and bake the caramel corn for 20 minutes. Then, take it out, stir and mix it up, and put it in again for 20 minutes. Take it out AGAIN, stir and mix up, and place back in oven for 20 more minutes.  (Total baking time is 1 hour).

8. Let cool and enjoy!!

Note: Sometimes I place it on wax paper and break it up. Sometimes I don’t.  Depends on my mood!

Linked to Today’s Creative Blog; These Creative Juices; A Silly Little Sparrow; All Thingz Related; The Pumpkin Patch; Lucky Star Lane; Creative Itch; Delicious Ambiguity; Hope Studios; New Nostalgia; Sugar Bee; Creations By Kara; Sew Much Ado; My Backyard Eden; Someday Crafts; Me and My Bucket; The Shabby Chic Cottage; Somewhat Simple; Fireflies and Jellybeans; Ponytails and Fishscales; It’s Sew Stinkin Cute; House of the Hepworths; Black Kats Design; Life As Lori; Fingerprints on the Fridge; Fun to Craft; The Shabby Nest; Finding Fabulous; Frou Frou Decor; A Little Lovely; I Heart Naptime; Kuzak’s Closet; Under The Table and Dreaming; Skip To My Lou; Keeping It Simple; The Girl Creative; Sumo’s Sweet Stuff; Chic On A Shoestring; Brambleberry Cottage; Cheap Chic Home; Paisley Passions; Craft-O-Maniac; Craftaholics Anonymous; Between Naps On The Porch; Coastal Charm; Tales From Bloggeritaville