Baked Caramel Corn (foolproof - no candy thermometer needed)
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I mentioned the candy thermometer in the title because I have tried making fudge and other things with one AND with the glass of cold water test and I've never been successful. (yes I know to keep the bulb of the thermometer off the bottom of the pan which would give a false reading) My grandmother, who will be 90 in August of 2010 has never failed when she makes Penuche, one of my favorites from the 1950 Betty Crocker Cookbook. I will visit her one of these weekends and ask her to make it with me. Then, IF I can do it twice in a row by myself, I will post the recipe.
Anyway, this recipe comes from one of the managers at work - her late mother was a great cook and so is she. This is so easy to make. It is not too sweet and it is NOT sticky like storebought. Without nuts, I calculated it is about 160 calories per cup. Well, that is how she made it but I really like nuts, don't you guys?
Baked Caramel Corn
25 cups of popped popcorn
1 cup butter
2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
nuts if desiredPour popped corn and nuts into 2 large roasting pans. Set aside.
In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring for five minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the soda and vanilla.
PLEASE NOTE: The soda will cause the caramel mixture to "swell", so work quickly!
(no wonder I like cooking so much, it is so sexual…...)
Pour over popcorn, mixing well using buttered spatula. Bake in 250 F oven for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven; cool completely on parchment or wax paper. Break apart and store in tightly covered containers. Makes about five quarts.
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25 Cups of PopcornThis recipe is definitely about sharing !!
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Yes, it is about sharing LB - and while I'm here - I'm chuckling to myself about the word FOOL PROOF. When you think about it, nothing really can be or is. Agree?
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I intend to make this for my nieces and nephews soon and we will see how "FOOL PROOF" this is. I suspect this recipe is about testing ones skills at cooking. So many times one has to use their eyes, nose and ears when cooking and not some given time frame for frame for a recipe.
