Quick & Easy Caramel Corn (from The Lion House Christmas Cookbook)
2/3 cup unpopped popcorn (or you can use 2 bags microwave popcorn, a plain or lightly salted flavor)
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 cups light brown sugar
1/2 cup light Karo syrup (corn syrup)
1 Tb water
a pinch of baking soda
Pop your popcorn! Air popper, microwave, stovetop, whichever you prefer. Set aside.
Melt butter in small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add brown sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook, stirring constantly, till sugar is dissolved and mixture reaches a hard boil. (I never bother measuring the actual temp, I just let it get all vigorously bubbly for a minute or two) Remove from heat and immediately stir in the pinch of baking soda. Pour caramel over popcorn, in a very large bowl. Stir to coat thoroughly. Wait a few minutes before eating, that caramel is HOT!!
Here's a tip: The best way on EARTH of getting this popcorn evenly covered is to: place one large brown paper grocery bag inside another, so you have a doubled paper bag. Put your popcorn in this paper bag, and pour the caramel over the top. Close the top of the bag, and roll it over and scrunch it, so you have a firm hold on it, and no popcorn or caramel is going to escape! Now, shake and beat and knead that bag of popcorn, nearly to death! Open the bag and scrape popcorn and caramel out into a large bowl. Yes, some caramel will remain stuck on the bag. It's okay, there's plenty. This is our favorite way to do it!