Monday, June 13, 2011

Oma's Salted Caramel Cracker Jacks





WOW! What a whirlwind it has been around here! Are you all settling into SUMMER? It still feels like early FALL to me, but I am sure it will start feeling like SUMMER soon! A trip to the lake on a hot day with lots of kiddos and friends is sounding fun and so are morning hikes and walks to the park...but right now, a cozy kitchen and Oma's Salted Caramel Cracker Jacks sounds way better than snow cones and cold, creamy milkshakes!

Wheather you are making cracker jacks or buttered popcorn with shredded cheddar...keeping a bag of old-fashioned popcorn is a great staple to keep on hard for snacks! {I like the air popper because so far...I haven't burned it!}

You will need to borrow or buy an air popper for this recipe...it's worth it. Goodwill and garage sales are also great places to find these little treasures!




Oma's Salted Caramel Cracker Jacks

1 cup popcorn kernels

2 sticks unsalted butter

2 cups packed brown sugar...may use 1/2 golden and 1/2 dark

½ cup light corn syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 250*

*Pop popcorn in AIR POPPER. Keep warm in oven.

*Discard kernels

*Place popcorn in large baking pan {I use my lasagna pan}

*Melt butter, sugar and corn syrup, stirring constantly until it reaches a boil.

*Boil for 5 minutes without stirring

*Remove from heat

*Add baking soda and vanilla and stir.

*Pour caramel sauce over warmed popcorn.

*Stir in salted peanuts {recipe below} or store bought honey roasted are also fine...use 2 cups.

Bake @ 250 for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Cool on Parchment paper or Roulpat.



Salted Peanuts:

2 cups unsalted peanuts

1 cup sugar

¼ cup water

1 tsp. pure almond extract

Directions:

*Boil all ingredients in heavy skillet for about 7 minutes until liquid starts to evaporate.

*Pour onto SILPAT or onto tin foil.

Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. Kosher salt

Add to Cracker Jacks




Box up some to give away...and get it OUT of your house immediately! It is just THAT addicting.

If you have little ones or TEENAGERS, be sure to add the prize. I am going to stick quarters in little square bags for our next LEFT CENTER RIGHT DICE GAME night! Can't wait!



Dreaming of...

















FUN PACKAGING IDEAS COMING SOON...

Share with: our simple country life, moms crazy cooking, Titus 2sday, this chick cooks

7 comments:

  1. Can I just say...your parents are completely darling!!! LOVE THEM! Love you too!! xoxoxo

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  2. Oh, how I love Cracker Jacks...and who know it could be so easy to make at home! Thanks for sharing! Also...in the great state of Tennessee we are in the mid 90's!! It is definitely feeling like summer to this pregnant momma :) I could use a few more of those Fall like mornings!

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  3. YUM. I definitely need to try this...I don't have an air popper but I do have a Whirley Pop! Think it will work the same?

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  4. Kim Bunny...and they LOVE you too!

    Carmella...Let's trade states :}

    Sarah...the Whirley Pop should be fine. My dad always made the popcorn on the stove for my mom and it was delish. I just tend to burn things, so, I figured the air popper was a safe bet for most. :} Please let me know how it turns out in your fancy schmancy Whirly Pop!

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  5. Those cracker jacks sound like a wonderful treat :) I wanted to invite you over to show off your recipe at These Chicks Cooked Recipe Spotlight. Have a great day!
    Katie

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  6. Thanks for linking to THIS WEEK'S CRAVINGS! Tomorrow we post the TOP CLICKED recipe, make sure to come by and take a look. Today we opened this week's theme "30 MINUTE MEALS". We hope you stop back by and link up again! Happy Blogging!

    http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/THIS%20WEEKS%20CRAVINGS

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  7. Looking forward to trying this recipe. YUM! Thanks for linking this up for Simply Homemaking. I must apologize for not returning notes your way. Each and everyone of them have been sweet. Thank you, for your encouragement!

    I'll be featuring this post tomorrow for Simply Homemaking. :0) Thanks for sharing!

    Much Love & Blessings,
    ESTHER
    Our Simple Country Life

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