Hi Friends! It’s another Tasty Tuesday and I have a really fun fall treat for today!Pecan Caramel Popcorn! Now to set the record straight, you don’t have to use pecans. This is great without any nuts! For real! Or you could choose a different nut! You just can’t lose with this recipe, and somehow it just seems perfect as an October treat!

So without further ado, let’s begin!

Ingredients:

• Popcorn (4 quarts popped, roughly 1 cup un-popped)
• 1/2 c butter (1 stick)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup light karo syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1-2 cups pecans

Preheat oven to 250°.

We air pop our popcorn. I think it allows it to stay a little lighter and crispier. Gently shake the bowl to try and get any un-popped kernels to the bottom, and remove. That could be hard on your teeth if you accidentally bit into one.

Prepare a large baking pan with cooking spray (very important as caramel is super sticky)

Add your popped popcorn to the pan.

Over low heat, in a dry skillet, add your pecans keep a close eye on them, and gently turn a few times, 3-4 minutes. Don’t allow it to burn.

Carefully  spread the pecans in a layer over the top of the popcorn. Remember, nuts are optional. This recipe is often made without nuts.

Alright, let’s work on that caramel. In a large sauce pan put your butter, brown sugar, karo syrup and salt.

Gently stir over medium heat as it melts down.

When it begins to come to a boil, allow it to boil 5 minutes, stirring continually. Remove from heat.

Add the baking soda and vanilla and stir. Keep stirring it, this is going to cause it to foam.

Now pour it over the corn, and using a large spoon, stir to mix the caramel around in the popcorn.

Bake in oven stopping to gently stir every 15 minutes for a total of 45 minutes.

We set a timer to help us remember to come back and stir every 15 min.

And voila! It is ready!

Your house is going to smell so heavenly!

Some of the clusters will be pretty large… like a glacier! You can break them down if you like. Or just tackle that glacier head on! I handed a small glacier to Jake last night after dinner. He made eye contact and gave me a grin. He knew what to do!

It is seriously so good!

Use an airtight container to store it in, it will stay fresh and crispy for days!

This would make great gifts for the holidays! You could put it in a cute holiday ziplock bag with a cute little serving bowl, and maybe some other little treats. Or a mason jar with a cheerful ribbon on it.

I asked Jake yesterday what was his favorite of all the things I have made for this blog. He said, “this caramel corn”. Boom!

Do you see these little mouse napkins? My sister Stacey got me those! Aren’t they adorable?

I occasionally hear from people about the little dishes and assorted kitchen items I include in my photos. I have so much fun adding those things in for these photos! I have a drawer where I keep pretty things that add a warmth, a touch of “cozy” or “whimsy” if you will. My sister Stacey every now and then will bring me something to add to the collection. These little mouse napkins were such an addition. Can you imagine my face when I saw those cute napkins? It just blessed me so! She did it to be kind to me! And the fact that she did something right out of the blue, no special reason but to be nice so touched my heart. Isn’t it amazing how something can impact you that way? Now every time I look at those cute little mouse napkins, I smile and think of her. Kindness has this incredible lifelong legacy inherent to it. That is now part of my life story, a golden part! A little dose of kindness can go a whole lot further than we even know!

I hope you have a week that is as sweet as this pecan caramel popcorn!

I’ll be back Friday for another Fashion Friday!

Love Always,

Amy

There is no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.    ~Scott Adams