Christmas crunch

Todd and I decided to make some treats for some friends and neighbors as holiday gifts.  We decided my mom's old tried and true recipe for caramel corn would be perfect.  (Or maybe I just wanted caramel corn and masked my gluttony behind the guise of gift-giving.  Its so hard to say.)  I have 3 recipes I like depending on how much time I have and which ingredients I have on hand.  One is from my Aunt Bee, one is from a friend from high school and one is my mom's.  Mom's takes longer than the others but is SO worth it!

Oven Caramel Corn

15 cups popcorn, popped
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

1.  Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
2.  Divide popcorn between 2 ungreased baking pans (13x9x2) or one large roasting pan.
3.  In saucepan heat sugar, butter, corn syrup and salt over medium heat stirring occasionally until bubbles begin to form around the edges.  Continue cooking over medium, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes.
4.  Remove from heat.  Stir in baking soda until foamy.  Pour over popped corn, stirring until well coated.
5.  Bake one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

One batch makes a nicely filled gallon Ziploc bag.

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