carry on traditions

The other night we watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - the original. I made my caramel corn and enjoyed the sweetest movie. My five year old had never seen it and LOVED it, all except the tunnel scene.  My mom used to make caramel corn every Saturday night and we'd watch Love Boat and Fantasy Island. Little did I realize that I was carrying on a tradition. Here is my easy recipe:  



Caramel Corn
1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)
1 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2-3 batches of air popped corn
Salt optional

Put popped corn in paper sack. Melt butter over medium heat. Add brown sugar and corn syrup. Cook and stir until boiling. Boil for four minutes. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda thoroughly. Pour caramel sauce over corn in bag and stir with large wooden spoon. Close bad and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave for 30 more seconds, stir. Remove caramel corn from bag - salt if you like and let dry on wax paper.

Note: caramel sauce is the stickiest most burningest goo - use a long handled spoon when you stir the popcorn and watch for little fingers that want to try the sauce. Popcorn will be soft when you take it out of the microwave but will harden in a couple of minutes.

Easy, just throw away the messy bag. Only one pot to clean.

That's it!