Gingerbread Popcorn

Ingredients:
2 bags microwave popcorn (unpopped kernels removed)
1 c. butter
2 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. molasses
1/4 c. corn syrup
1 T. ground ginger
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250.
Line 2 cookie sheets with foil and spray with non stick cooking spray. Fill each with 1 bag of popped popcorn.
Combine butter, brown sugar, molasses, corn syrup, ginger, cinnamon, and slat in a large, heavy bottom saucepan. Heat over medium heat until mixture boils. Boil for 5 minutes; stirring frequently.
Remove from heat and add baking soda. Pour over popcorn; toss to coat.
Bake at 250 for one hour, carefully stirring the warm mixture about every 15 minutes. Cool completely.

Makes 14 cups. Total time 1 hour 10 minutes.

Verdict:
I made this the other day. It is crunchy and so yummy. I gave the rest away so that I wouldn't eat it. Now I want to make more.

It should be noted: When you add the baking soda the mixture will get kind of foamy. That is fine. Also while you are cooking it in the oven it will make it easier to coat the popcorn when you stir it, so don't worry about coating every piece the first time.

Caramel Corn

Ingredients:
3 bags of popped microwave popcorn
2 sticks of butter
1 cup corn syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar

Directions:
Combine all ingredients together in a pot (except popcorn) and bring to a boil.
Boil until it reaches a soft ball stage on a candy thermometer.
Pour mixture over popcorn and mix together well.

Total time 30 minutes. Serves a lot.

Verdict:
My friend Cathy used to make this for me. She would send a bag home with me and I would eat it all myself. Because it is gooey, sticky, yummy goodness. If you are one of those people, like Blake, that like crunchy popcorn then this is not for you. But you "only like crunchy caramel corn popcorn eaters" are silly. That being said...when I asked Cathy for the recipe this was included in the directions and I thought it was funny.

"If you're feeling a whole lot of love for your family, it helps if you try to sift out the kernels that didn't pop before you pour the caramel over it."