Carmel corn

Christmas is full of memories. Huge family get-togethers with cousins and aunts and uncles. Singing Christmas carols then coming home for hot chocolate. Getting up and running to look out the window to see if it was white outside. Taking turns reading the story of Christ's birth. Opening presents together... and the list just goes on and one.

But the memory from childhood that is etched most tenderly in my mind was simply spending Christmas Eve together. As the Christmas tree lights shown brightly in the dimmed room we'd sit around and sing and talk and crack nuts. And as we kids persuaded Mama to let us open just one gift pleeeeeaaaase, we'd munch on delicious caramel corn. Now the smell of caramel corn baking is forever linked to many fun memories from Christmases gone by.

Carmel Corn

15-20 cups popcorn
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda (wait)
1 tsp vanilla

Heat sugar, butter, syrup and salt until bubbly. Meanwhile, combing soda and vanilla. Cook sugar mixture over medium heat for 5 min stirring just enough to keep from burning. Remove from heat and add soda/vanilla. Coat corn. Place in greased pan and bake at 200 for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.