Caramel Popcorn

My niece, Janessa, brought this to a family party and no one would leave the platter of caramel popcorn until it was gone.  

Ingredients:

1/4 cup unpopped popcorn

Vegetable oil

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup light Karo syrup

dash of salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Pour just enough vegetable oil in a pan to cover the bottom.  Add popcorn.  Put on lid.  Hold pan over medium heat, without letting it touch the burner.  Hold until popcorn has finished popping.  Remove old maids.  

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring butter, sugar, syrup and salt to a boil.  When it starts to boil, turn heat to medium and continue to boil for 2 minutes,  stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.

In a large bowl, combine popcorn and carmel.  You may eat it like this or make into balls.