2 recipes - one far superior

Halloween is around the corner and a few days ago cupcakes and cashmere posted about her favorite childhood caramel corn recipe. hahaha, oh cupcakes, you're so cute.

If you know anything about me you'll know that I come from caramel popcorn royalty.  (Seriously, my mom makes the best popcorn in the world.) We have super 8 footage of me and my siblings in our backyard dancing around in our pajamas and my awesome mom is sitting on a big blanket with 2 huge bowls of popcorn.  One butter and salt the other caramel. (This is like the late 70's??) and it has been one of my favorite food traditions ever. Plus, all my kids love it. Owen calls it sticky popcorn asks for this all the time, but it is essential around halloween. 

Anyway, there are a few popcorn laws one must follow when attempting the ultimate caramel popcorn experience.

1.  You must prepare 2 bowls of popcorn .  One butter and salt and one caramel.
2.   Fill your individual bowl 50/50. Amazing. (Don't have an air popper? Try amazon for 17 bucks)
3.   Look for the secret ingredient!

I went on over to Cupcakes Caramel corn and, by jove(!), it was missing the secret ingredient.

Behold, the awesomesauce.

Believe me when i tell you that all others pale in comparison. Rather than having hard, crispy, crunchy popcorn, this gives you the ooey, gooeiest, most delicious caramel and it stays soft! Please use the awesomesauce.
(just heard i'm not even using that right, but i don't care.  its the perfect description for the contents of this can.)

4. Don't pour all of the caramel at once, it may be too much as this recipe probably makes more than you'll need. Pour it on in batches and mix until its fully coated and yummy and delicious.

2 poppers full of popcorn (see, you'll need a big bowl)

1 cube of butter

1 cup of brown sugar

at least 1/2 can of sweetened condensed milk (up to 3/4 can)

1/4 c Karo Syrup (optional)

Melt butter slowly on meduim low in a small pot. (you dont want it to burn)

Add brown sugar and stir and stir and stir until all the granules are melted away. (you don't want it sugary.) ***stir consistently for at LEAST 2 min straight.  slow and low 

Add sweetened condensed milk and stir. Should be a light brown and creamy looking.   Add karo syrup until mixed. 

Pour over popcorn and mix together.  Careful it will be really HOT. 

Enjoy!

So there you go.  Whip up a few batches of popcorn and hunker down with your favorite halloween movie this weekend. (Charlie Brown?  Nightmare Before Christmas?) You won't be sorry!

By the way, there is no lightened up version of this. you just have to go for it.  go for it with gusto, i say.

Oh, and don't forget to have donuts with your chili before you head out trick or treating.  Another perfect halloween combination brought to you by these guys.

Aren't we cute? Left to Right: Jami, Emily, Mom, Chris, Dad, Carter and (obviously) Adam.
Sorry Kelly! This is pre-baby sister.