My Amish Friend's Caramel Corn

 

RECIPE (My changes will be in red)

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

7quarts plain popped popcorn  (4 bags microwave movie butter popcorn, popped)

2 cups brown sugar (light or dark)

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 cup margarine (1 cup salted butter)

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

1. Place the popped popcorn into two shallow greased baking pans. (I use the disposable foil pans, the really big ones)  Side note: make sure you pick out all the unpopped kernnels. Set these pans aside.

 

2. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C ) Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, margarine/butter and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring enough to blend. Once the mixture begins to boil, boil for 5 minutes while stirring constantly.

 

3. Remove from the heat, and stir in the baking soda and vanilla. The mixture will be light and foamy. Immediately pour over the popcorn in the two pans, and stir to coat. Don't worry too much at this point about getting all the corn coated.

 

4. Bake for 1 hour, removing the pans, and giving them each a good stir every 15 minutes.  Side Note: I rotate the pans from top to bottom in the oven each time I do the stirring.

Line the  counter top with wax paper. Dump the corn out onto the waxed paper and separate the pieces. Allow to cool completely, then store in an airtight container or resealable bag.