It's about that time!

In high school Cami and I were in the same AP Chemistry class taught by the coolest lady from Texahoma, formerly known as Mrs. Smith. She has since married Golden Valley's biology teacher and moved on, as let's hope we all have since high school.

We had a lab every Friday and when it was time to clean up and move on to our next class Mrs. Smith would always shout, "It's about that time!" in her totally awesome Texahoma accent. So, in the spirit of moving on, I share this recipe.

I used to want to eat nothing but caramel popcorn the way my sixteen-year-old neighbor taught me to make it, but I think I'm over the need to eat it every single night of my life. Now you can though.

Caramel Popcorn

for a large group
4 bags microwave popcorn, popped and "old maids" removed
1 cup butter
1 cup Karo syrup
2 cups brown sugar

for a small group, or extreme caramel popcorn addicts
1 bag microwave popcorn, popped and "old maids" removed
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup Karo syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar

In a large sauce pan on medium high heat combine the butter, sugar and karo syrup. Stir constantly until the butter melts. Keep stirring and every 30 seconds check to see if the sugar has dissolved.

You can check using the back of a wooden spoon. Just scoop up a bunch of sauce and lift the spoon out of the pan. Look for individual granules of sugar. If you spot them, stir another 30 seconds and check again until you can't see the sugar granules on the back of the spoon any more. You can also double check by sliding your finger across the back of the COOLED spoon to feel for granules. (Then you get to lick your finger. :)

As soon as the sugar is dissolved, remove the sauce from the heat and pour over the popcorn. Stir for 2-3 minutes to coat evenly and cool it off. If it seems like there is still some white popcorn without caramel on it, just keep stirring scraping the bottom of the bowl each time. There is enough to go around.

Serve with a smile and expect one in return because it is that good!

This post's post scripts:

1. Yes, I posted a picture of myself from when I was in high school.
2. Is "old maids" a family term, or a common phrase? My mom always called unpopped popcorn kernels old maids.
3. This popcorn is my favorite because it's the flavor of brown sugar and butter but not crunchy like cracker jacks. I like cracker jacks and I have a great recipe to make brown sugar and butter caramel popcorn that is crunchy like that, but it takes more than an hour to make. This one really only takes 10 minutes tops.
4. Microwave popcorn? Yes. Microwave popcorn. I like to use Orville's Smart Pop. There's just enough of that fake butter flavor on it to compliment all the sugar you pour on top of it.
5. WARNING: This stuff is super sticky. You'll tell yourself it's your last bite and wash your hands, but you'll definitely get them sticky again for another last bite.