I posted Grandma Ruth’s Caramel Corn recipe back in October, 2011. It’s the sweetest story how I came to hold this delightful recipe in my hands.
Grandma Ruth was an elderly neighbor, not quite 100 years old to be exact. She lived with her grand-daughter’s family across the street from us several years ago in Washington. She was a sweet lady filled with heart warming smiles and exuded the most comforting peace when I was around her.
At that time, Grandma Ruth didn’t bake or cook anymore. But her grand-daughter was always re-creating her recipes. And of course, they always shared the deliciousness with our family.
Some of my most treasured recipes, like Grandma Ruth’s Caramel Corn, have come from friends, family members or someone I knew only for a short time. I’ve lived half a life so far and I think often about the people who have come and gone in my life. People who I may have only known for a short time, but they made a lasting impression on my heart.
I made Grandma Ruth’s Caramel Corn this past week during a baking day with my youngest gal. It brought back memories of the day I first made this recipe and how much she loved it. She was in middle school and I remember her being completely thrilled to find the caramel corn in the oven.
It was a little bittersweet however. Back in 2011 when I first made this recipe we had our adorable little buddy, Tank. He was still young and feisty and loved sweeping crumbs off the kitchen floor. Honestly, I teared up when I read the old post. His picture is smack in the middle of it. I’m such a softie for our fur babies and I miss them terribly when they leave us.
I’ve been going back through this blog and reading and sifting through old posts and recipes. And there, in many of the posts, are both our previous pups, Elwood our giant Airedale Terrier and Tank our Cairn Terrier. Ok, so I sobbed buckets. Ugh! They gave us so many years of love and laughter.
As I’m sitting at my desk teary eyed and trying to find a kleenex, our newest fur baby lays his sweet head on my lap. Yes, this is Gus, aka the Gus Gus, Boomer, Bubs, rowdy cow dog and many more names that sometimes come out of my husbands mouth. He’s my sidekick these days and just like Elwood and Tank, he loves to sweep up the kitchen floor.
I’ve posted Grandma Ruth’s Caramel Corn recipe below. But if you’d like to read the post from 2011, you can find it here.
The first day of fall is tomorrow. I couldn’t be more excited for the new season!
Delicious Wishes and Loads of Love,
Karista
Grandma Ruth’s Caramel Corn
Ingredients
- 4 ½ – 5 Quarts popped plain popcorn
- 2 Cups Brown Sugar
- ½ Cup light corn syrup (Karo)
- 1 Cup Butter
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ Cream of Tartar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- Buttered large bowls (at least 2)
- Buttered cookie sheets (at least 2)
Instructions
- 1. Combine brown sugar, karo syrup, butter, salt and cream of tartar in a large pot. Cook for 2-3 minutes until all the ingredients are nice and combined.
- 2. Next add the baking soda, it’ll foam and bubble up, so be careful. Once the baking soda has combined with the other ingredients take it off the heat.
- 3. Put the popcorn in large buttered bowls (I use 2 bowls), next add Carmel glaze to all popcorn distributing evenly and toss to coat.
- 4. Next pour popcorn onto buttered cookie sheets and bake at 200 degrees for one hour.
- 5. Let the caramel corn cool and then break apart and store in Ziploc bags, or place in individual treat bags. Keep in a cool dry place.
My Mom always made this around Christmas…..it was a hit with all the recipients! Rings back many fond memories. I’m caring on the tradition. The recipes are very similar…mine lacks the cream of tartar. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Kathryn for your comment. I love these ancestral recipes and how wonderful that you are continuing the tradition! I adore recipes that my grandmother or mother prepared, especially around the holidays. It makes our holidays today very special. Delicious Wishes, Karista