Delicious Microwave Caramel Popcorn Recipe

I was looking for a good recipe for caramel popcorn yesterday, and my mom found this one for me. It was similar to one that she used for classroom parties, etc. when we were growing up. It was so easy, and really delicious. Next time I think I might add peanuts.

INGREDIENTS

4 Quarts popped popcorn

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup margarine

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1/2 t. salt

1 t. vanilla extract

1/2 t. baking soda

DIRECTIONS

1. Place popped popcorn in large brown paper bag (like the kind you get at the grocery store). Set aside.

2. In a 2 quart heat-proof glass dish, heat all ingredients except baking soda for 3 minutes. Take out and stir until well combined. Return to microwave for 1 min. 30 sec. Remove from microwave and stir in baking soda.

3. Pour syrup over popcorn in bag. Fold top of bag over once or twice to close, and shake to coat popcorn. Heat in microwave for 1 min. 10 sec. Remove from microwave, shake, flip bag and return to microwave for 1 min. 10 sec. Dump popcorn onto wax paper and let cool until coating is set. Store in an airtight container for up to 10 days.

Happy Birthday Jack!

Jack turned one on Saturday. We didn't have a celebration that day, because we'd already done a big party a couple weeks before. That post is still forthcoming. I'm waiting on some pictures my neighbor took at the party. My camera battery died during the party, so she was nice enough to run home and get her camera. Anyhow, here's Jack's first year of pictures in review.

Cruela Devil

If any of you have the 101 Dalmatians animated movie with fast play, you know there's a new music video at the end with some teeny bopper singer doing a reprieve of the Cruela Devil song. Carly loves it. We had fun this morning dressing each other up and running around singing it like super stars.This is her rock star kissy face.I think she was saying Cruela Devil. I really should have done my hair and make up before taking this picture, but I think Carly is pretty cute in it. She had a great time dancing and singing with mommy. I think it's hilarious to watch her get into it.

Just Because They're Cute

I just thought these pictures of the kids were cute.

The kids like to play Wii, and I like to keep it as something they rarely get to do, and usually only with Daddy. I snapped this picture while Jarod was helping Josh play baseball. Josh's smile is priceless. I love it. I've been trying new hair styles with Carly, from www.shedoeshair.blogspot.com.

Halloween Party

The ward Halloween Party was amazing this year. It was held at a family's house because they have a bit of land, with a barn. There were about 10 different game booths set up in the barn for the kids to win candy and prizes, a pie eating contest, chili cook off, cake walk, pony rides, hay rides, face painting, and trunk-or-treating.

I think their costumes turned out pretty cute. I have to give my mom a lot of credit for helping me with Carly's dress. It was my first sewing project, and it turned out so cute. She loves it. She got some Sleeping Beauty shoes and magic wand for her birthday, so she decided she was Sleeping Beauty.
Josh loved being a lion. As soon as I got the costume on him, he dropped to the floor and started roaring.

Jack was dressed as a "Jack-o-Lantern". I thought this half smile from Jack was pretty sweet.

Here's Carly getting her face painted.

Ring Toss Josh wasn't really sure what he was supposed to be doing. I guess it seemed counter intuitive to knock the milk jugs down with the baseball. Carly had great form for the bean bag toss. She was able to get them into the smaller holes, and not just the huge mouth. The missionaries were quite impressed. Whenever she sees them she says they are her friends, from when they eat dinner with us. It was such a great party. The kids loved all the different games, especially when they got candy at the end. Josh is showing off his bug ring.
In true Halloween style, Josh ran in when we got home and immediately dumped his candy out on the floor, to discover what goodies he'd scored.

We had a great time, and I was glad my mom was able to go with me and the kids. It was so cute to hear Carly and Josh saying "trick or treat" during the trunk or treat. They are really excited about Halloween this year. It's fun that they're old enough to really get a kick out of holidays.