CARAMELLY CARAMEL CORN
It's true. They weren't lying. I have been afraid of hot caramel for the past 26 years. Since the Great Bubble Finger "Why Did You Make Me Do This, Dad!?" Caramel Popcorn Ball Travesty of '84, I've left it to the pros. Well, ladies and germs... I'm a grown woman now. I'm 30 & 1/2 years old. And I'm ready to take the big, bad boiled caramel by the cahones & show it who's boss! (And it ain't Tony Danza!)
So here we go! YAY!!! :)
INGREDIENTS:
7 quarts of plain popped popcorn (28 cups)
2 cups dry roasted peanuts (optional)
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp butter extract
1 'Disney's Halloween Treat' DVD and or
The Canterbury Ghost
1. I suck at making popcorn (I said that with as much class as I could muster) so you're going to have to ask a neighbor. I've tried less oil, more oil, hotter temp, lower temp & alas, my corn is always burnt and/or chewy and/or BOTH. Waaah. Suggestions?
Burnt popcorn. Blech.
But make-a zee popcorn. You can't skip this step.
Grease two shallow baking pans with butter or cooking spray. Divvy up the popcorn & nuts between the two trays. Set aside.
3. Preheat oven to 250. In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt.
Bring to a boil over medium heat and stir thoroughly til blended. Let it all boil for 5 minutes while stirring continuously.
Turn on a little Wham, 'Careless Whisper' to be exact & that'll take you right to the five minute mark. "Guilty feet have got-a no popcorn..."
4. Once George is over, remove the pan from the heat and stir in baking soda, vanilla & butter extract. The mixture will be light and foamy.
Immediately pour over the popcorn and stir until decently coated. And never fear! Once the caramel has been in the oven, it will be much easier to coat over the pock-orn.
Sylvia Plath, I finally get it now!5. Bake for 1 hour. Every 15 minutes, take the pans out & stir & stir & stir. Take a minute & inhale deeply. IT SMELLS SO DELICIOUS!!! Don't believe me? Ask the dishes!
6. Line the counter top with waxed or parchment paper. Dump the GOLDEN CARMELLY DELICIOUSNESS onto the paper & break apart any chunks that are sticking. Cool completely & store in an airtight container or your underwear drawer. Cause your roomies don't go in there. :)
Oh my gosh, I just tried a few pieces of this... HOLY AUNT JEMIMA MUFFINS, one bite takes me back to Halloween in grade school. How funny that a taste can be a memory. Look what I made, Popskies! :) You may now play 'Disney's Halloween Treat' and invite your childhood best friend for life over, Shanny Bananny, and giggle & laugh & drink apple cider & eat caramel popcorn til you puke. Happy Halloween!!! :) :) :)
Too lazy to make your own? Check out Garrett's Popcorn out of Chicago. *swoon* THE BEST POPCORN ANYWHERE. *swoon*
11 comments:
That same recipe is the one I use! I give it away as gifts at Christmas time because my husband's family thinks it's the best thing in the entire world...and it just might be!
This looks delicious...and chocked with calories.
That sounds sooo good right now! On a total sidenote, my bestie up there ^ MammaDucky, has apparently been holding out on me with this goodie. I have never received any of this for Christmas. I say there should be some punishment for that. Maybe go to a vote? Whats the standard sentence for not feeding your best friend total awesome carmely goodness that is this treat? Moving to Colorado forever and ever? Yeah, I thought so. I say you move here too, I would weigh a trillion pounds, but I am cool with that, ha!
My favorite popped corn comes out of a good ole air popper. I bought one at a garage sale in the mid 80s and used it for years. It got lost in the last move, but here is a link to one like it on Amazon
Presto 04820 PopLite Hot Air Corn Popper
Mamma Ducky, COOL! :) It's really such a great gift idea!! You can put it in little bags w/ a bow- super easy. Good thinkin'!And I got this recipe off of AllRecipes.com. I've still got lots of stuff left so I might give it another whirl & include a few other ingredients I think might be tasty. I'll keep you posted! :)
Miss Daisy, you're cute when you worry. :)
Say it with me three times... "Food is not bad. A TON of food is bad. Food is not bad. A TON of food is bad. Food is not bad. A TON of food is bad."
Moderation is key!
Sassypants, I've ALWAYS wanted to go to Colorado! Or Montana! Or anyplace that is green! Or not LA! I'm in! :)
As for MammaDucky's diss... As much as I was on the edge of my seat to see the spark of melodrama turn into a fiery feud between your families that continued on for generations & generations... I think I see a loophole. :(
She specifically mentioned her husband's family. Are you in her husband's family? Cause if not, I think the jury may vote against you. Sorry, little lamb. :(
Next time, feud for sure!!! ;)
Family of Food (aka: Candygirl!), that is SO FUNNY. I was thinking the exact same thing last night! Man, if only I had an air popper. Also, low in calories! Spray a little 'Can't Believe It's Not Butter,' a pinch of salt... Yum! In 3 years & 5 months, I'll be sure to order one! ;)
Yayyyy!!! Woot, woot!! Bring some on ovah!! I am seriously contemplating going out and buying some caramel right now so I can make this tonight and eat it while watching San Francisco!! I wish you were heeeerrrree!!
I remember making and eating this at your house when we were kids. =)
Love, Shanny Bananny
Ahhhhh!! I love it!! You must!! :) I almost posted an old Halloween pic of you as a rabbit- HA! Do you know that one? You had a red nose & a pink sweatshirt!!
If you're going to make this for yourself, you might want to 1/2 the recipe! Or not. Oink, oink. Mommy's little piggy!!! ;)
One of the best things (or worst if you ask Richard Simmons) is that I work downstairs from MandiCrocker and I get to sample many of her blogged about creations...and let me tell you...this was GOOOOD! I only had a few bites and I taped up the bag for later...but...MANNNNNN it is good!!
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