dana shortt gourmet shop
55 Erb Street East
Unit 101
Waterloo, Ontario
N2J 4K8

phone: 519-880-1555
email: retail@danashortt.ca
web: www.danashortt.ca

published: october 21, 2009

sweet treat from a blushing bride

recipe: caramel corn

Although it’s been over three hours since I left the wedding of our good friends Shawn & Jessica, I’m still a little choked-up. It was an amazing, teary-eyed (in a good way!) celebration of their love and commitment to each other.

I adore attending weddings – even if I don’t know the bride and/or groom. My favourite part of a wedding celebration by far (even more than the food) is the speeches. I’m so glad that David remembered to stuff his pockets with Kleenex for me this afternoon! So many beautiful, heartfelt sentiments, such loving family and friends - it was a privilege to attend.

Shawn and Jessica had a relatively short engagement – as Jessica’s sister Suzanne said today; “When you meet someone that you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want the rest of your life to start right away.” They’re so perfect for one another, why wait?

At Jessica’s bridal shower a few weeks ago, she gave each of her friends a personalized card, outlining all of the qualities that she admires most in us and how those personality traits inspire her to have the best life possible with Shawn. In addition to the card, she also gave each of us a bag of her famous caramel corn, which she learned to make from her grandmother. Yes, Jess truly is this thoughtful.

Congratulations to my dear friends Shawn and Jessica – may your life together be as sweet as Grandma’s caramel corn!

jessica's caramel corn

ingredients

• seven quarts popped popcorn
• two cups brown sugar
• one cup butter
• one-half cup corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon salt
• one-half teaspoon baking soda
• one-half teaspoon pure vanilla extract

method

• Preheat oven to 250º F.
• Boil sugar, butter and corn syrup in a saucepan over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat and add the salt, baking soda and the vanilla. (The mixture will foam when the baking soda is added).
• Pour the caramel over the popped corn and stir carefully.
• Put popcorn onto a large pan into the oven and bake for 20-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or so (note: if you want really chewy popcorn, don’t put it in the oven at all).
• Crumble as it cools