Cinnabon Popcorn

The thing I love most about the Super Bowl Sunday is the food! We each picked a snack to have during the game. Bret picked wings, chips and con queso, and root beer floats. Ethan picked "Munchies," and Ellie picked a pack of multi-colored marshmallows. I picked this popcorn recipe from http://www.thegirlwhoateeverthing.blogspot.com/ to try and was very pleased with the result. Just one warning: it is very addictive!

12 Cup popped popcorn (about 1/2 Cup kernels or around 2 bags of microwave popcorn)

1 Cup pecan halves, roughly chopped

1 Cup brown sugar

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 Cup Karo Syrup

1 stick real butter (1/2 Cup)

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking soda

3 squares almond bark (or half a bag of white choc. chips)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees

Place popped popcorn and pecans in a large bowl.

Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a 2 liter capacity microwave safe bowl. Mix well. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup over the top of everything. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine. Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more.

Note: If you microwave it too much your popcorn will turn out really hard.

Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. Mixture will foam and rise. Pour caramel mixture over popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated. Note: Stir more than you think you need to!

Spread popcorn mixture onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and spread out on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil.

Melt almond bark according to pkg instructions. (OR just melt in the microwave at 30 seconds intervals, stirring after each segment until melted) Drizzle over popcorn mixture. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy! And oh, how I enjoy it!!