Easy Mircrowave Caramel Corn

A long time ago my mother, Marilyn Hanson, found this recipe in her favorite cooking column in the local newspaper and found this most excellent Microwave Carmel Corn recipe. After our family began to make this easy caramel corn - it became a family favorite and tradition around the holidays and at special times throughout the year.

Microwave Caramel Corn

Ingredients

• 4 quarts popped corn (Measurement: 1 quart = 4 cups; You will need 12 cups of popcorn)
• 1 stick of butter (no substitutes!)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup Karo Syrup
• 1 tsp baking soda - add last

Make your popcorn using an air popper – one scoop of popcorn kernels using their measuring cup/lid makes about four cups of popcorn.

Put twelve cups of popped corn in a doubled - brown paper grocery bag (this means two brown bags inside of each other). My recommendation is to pick up a few unused clean brown paper grocery bags the next time you go grocery shopping – although the used ones are fine as long as they are clean.

Next - combine butter, sugar, salt and syrup in a Pyrex measuring cup (or a glass bowl if you don’t have one). Bring this mixture to a boil in your microwave – time will vary depending on the model – I used a two and a half minute setting that brought it to the boiling point. Stir the ingredients using a wire Wisk or spoon – and put it back into the microwave and boil for one more minute (set the microwave for one and half minutes). Immediately after the microwave stops - add one tsp of baking soda and stir well. The caramel mixture will start to foam up and will turn a light brown color and look like taffy.

Pour this mixture over the popped corn – using a spatula to clean the Pyrex container – getting all of the caramel mixture onto the popped corn in the paper bag. Roll down the top edge of the paper bag – almost to where the popcorn is - shake the bag using an up and down movement by holding the rolled down top edge and the bottom side seam of the brown paper bag. I also use a sideways movement to distribute the mixture onto the popcorn.

Put the paper bag in the microwave – rolling the top edge down to fit it in.
 

1. Cook on High for one and half minutes. Remove the bag from the microwave and shake well – you may need to use pot holders so that you don’t burn yourself – as the bag gets really hot.
   
   
2. Return to the microwave and cook a second time for one and half minutes. Shake again.
   
   
3. Return to the microwave and cook a third time for one and half minutes. Shake again.
   

Have a large bowl prepared ahead to time – and dump the hot caramel corn into the bowl – be sure to scrape the remaining hot caramel corn out of the bag using a spatula or large spoon.
 
Stir continuously until it is cooled enough so that it doesn’t stick together – and store in an airtight container or a gallon size Ziplock bag.

Easy Buttermilk Substitute In Five Minutes!

My Quest For The Best Flour Tortilla Recipe - Melt In Your Mouth Good!

Dear Creating Gourmet Everyday Readers, 

My quest for a homemade flour tortilla recipe started when I was young. I was blessed with a stay at home mom who made friends in our neighborhood – and one of those friends was Dorothy Andrade. She became one of my mother’s dearest friends – and we would spend time in their home – and on one occasion Dorothy taught my mother how to make homemade flour tortillas using her incredible recipe.

The tortillas were melt in your mouth good – and they were light a fluffy and delicious in a way I’ve never tasted since. Now I’m on a quest for a recipe that comes close to it – I even Googled Dorothy Andrade to see if I could find her – maybe I’ll try again. All I know is that I must be able to make flour tortillas the way she did – or it won’t be right. I believe I can find something that may come close – and then I’ll have to perfect it after that until I reach that recipe.

With the introduction of how to make fresh salsa using jalapeños, onion, tomato, and bellpepper – and the enjoyment of this taste – it led to the thought of making homemade flour tortillas. They just need to go together!

I’m excited – and feel optimistic that I’ll succeed – with dedication and perseverance one cannot help but reach their goal. And it is a heartfelt desire – not just a passing fancy. Time for the research to begin – Googling for recipes – choosing a recipe to test out – and then deciding what is right and what isn’t right with it and move on from there. I think it will be fun and I’m ready to begin the journey.

In honor of True Mexican Cuisine and finding or creating The Best Flour Tortilla Recipe – I promise to share about this exploration and my recommendations that come from it.

To the enjoyment of life,

Lori

The Hanson Family Clam & Olive Dip

Recommended Cooking Tools

This post is about cooking tools that are referred to in recipes I post - some readers may have them on hand already - and others may need to purchase them or buy a comparable tool. I will provide links to purchase the items listed online - and brand recommendations where I am bias and will give a review of my own experience.


Some of the tools may be new gadgets and some may be familiar - please write about the ones you love and how they helped you in the kitchen with your creative expression as a chef.

Thanks for reading - and enjoy!

Lori
 


One of my kitchen staples that I use often to reheat food or cook vegetables is a
"Stainless Steel Steamer"

A stainless steel steamer is used in the bottom of a stainless steel pot. Make sure that you use enough water to steam until what you are cooking or reheating is done.


click here to purchase this stainless steel steamer online

Welcome To Creating Gourmet Everyday ...

Bagel with Roast Beef And Pepper Jack Cheese

Ingredients:
Onion Bagel
Mayonaise
1 - 2 Thinly Sliced Pieces of Roast Beef
Grated Pepper Jack Cheese

Directions:

• Slice the bagel in half - toast one or both halves of the bagel using the bagel setting on your toaster (if you have one) so that it is toasted well. I use the 3 setting on the toaster so that it doesn't get too brown.