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1
Note: Feel free to use just about anything you want in here: add in some mini peanut-butter crackers, use cashews or almonds instead of peanuts, perhaps throw in some dried fruit.
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2
Just make sure your extra ingredients approximately equal 5 cups and stay away from chocolateit will melt and become a big, huge mess.
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3
Spray a brown paper bag with cooking spray.
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4
Add popped popcorn, pretzels, cheese crackers and peanuts.
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5
Measure out baking soda; set aside.
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6
Combine butter or margarine, sugar, corn syrup and salt in a saucepan; bring to a hard boil, stirring constantly.
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7
Boil for 2 minutes (still stirring), then remove from heat and immediately stir in baking soda.
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8
Pour mixture over popcorn and stir to combine.
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9
Once everything is fairly evenly coated with caramel mixture, fold the top of the bag down and shake.
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10
Put bag in the microwave and cook on high for 1 minute (see note below).
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11
Take the bag out and shake again (bag will be hot!).
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12
Return to the microwave and cook for 1 minute more.
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13
Take out, put in a bowl and eat!
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14
Caramel corn will harden and start to stick together as it cools, so you may want to stir it to break it apart periodically.
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15
This is easiest to do with the handle of a wooden spoon.
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16
Note: If you have a high-powered microwave, you may want to lower it one or two levels, or slightly adjust the microwave time, to keep the sugar in the caramel from burning.
