A Fall Treat: Caramel Corn

Today is a cloudy, cool, and breezy fall day here in Iowa.  The leaves are turning and falling to the ground and our house is officially decorated for Halloween thanks to a big push from our kiddos.  We have a fireplace in our new house (we didn't before) and I think this may be the perfect night to fire it up.  If you're going to be enjoying a fire, you need a snack!  Today I thought caramel corn would be the perfect treat.  If only we had some apple cider to go with it.

My mom has made homemade caramel corn for years and it is a wonderful treat.  The problem is, once you start eating it, you can't stop!  Today I thought I'd share that recipe with you.  I have found it is wonderful to take to parties and holiday festivities, because it's easy to transport and definitely gets eaten.  Enjoy!

Homemade Caramel Corn

Roaster pan nearly filled to top with popcorn (I usually use yellow, because it's bigger, but white works as well)
2 sticks of butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda

Combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a 2-quart sauce pan.  Bring to a boil and let it boil for five minutes.  Remove from heat and add 1 t. baking soda.  Mixture will get frothy and seem like it's going to overflow, but it won't!  Pour slowly over popcorn making sure to stir carefully to spread throughout the pan.  Bake for one hour at 200 degrees, stirring every fifteen minutes.  Spread out on wax paper and allow to cool.