Saying Grace: Christmas: Caramel Corn

Sometimes it's those little things that tell you that it's Christmas. Like hanging garland across the window, or setting the wise men on the hearth, or suspending the wax-faced angel on top of the freshly cut pine. Those things that bring flashes of memory and steal satisfyingly across your soul, whispering, "Christmas is here."

Children's faces, bright with cold and cheer, crowding into a warm kitchen, dropping snow-caked mittens and hats. A room suddenly filled with laughing and vying for freshly baked treats. A mother drizzling caramel over a heaping bowl of popcorn, batting away eager fingers with a smile and a wink. "Not yet. Not quite done."

Christmas Sunday, laden with bags of caramel-colored goodness, exchanging hugs and wishes for a happy season. A choir of voices, joyfully singing of God become man, the Hope of all.

Christmas stockings bulging at odd angles, tempting itching fingers to unburden them. Presents given. Presents received. Exclamations of delight and maybe a tear or two. A feast of food, a reminder of our needs abundantly supplied. Groans and protestations. "No, thanks. Can't eat another bite." Voices talking low, dozing around the fire, an unintentional nap or two. Sweet times and sweet memories.

We gather round the table

We close our eyes and sing

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow"

To be with you, to be with you

I love this time of year

It always brings me here

To be with you

~Sara Groves, "To Be With You"~

Caramel Corn

5 to 6 quarts popped corn, set aside (2 bags gave me almost 5 quarts...close enough!)

1 cup butter (2 sticks)

2 cups packed brown sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

Pop your corn. Measure out 5 to 6 quarts into a large bowl. Set aside.

(A 4 cup--which is 1 quart--Pyrex measuring cup is handy for this!)

In a medium saucepan, melt butter. Add brown sugar, corn syrup and salt.

Whisk while bringing mixture up to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, whisking constantly.

Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and baking soda and whisk together.

Pour caramel over big bowl of popped corn.

I found this was much easier if I did it a little bit at a time.

I poured about a quarter of the mixture over the bowl, mixed well, did another quarter, mixed well, etc.

When mixing, scoop up from the bottom of the bowl, trying not to crush the popcorn. Mix until caramel evenly covers popcorn and and try to break up any big clumps.