Healthier caramel corn

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup maple syrup
• 3 tbsp butter (see note)
• 2 tbsp sucanat (opt., see note)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup nuts (opt., adds fat)
• 8 cup (to 12) popped popcorn (see -note)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Combine syrup, butter, sucanat and salt in saucepan until butter is melted. Boil without stirring 3 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla (add nuts if using). #Pour over popcorn. Mix well.
4. Place on 2 large cook sheets. Bake for 15 minut4es.
5. Cool. Break into pieces. Freezes well.

Notes:

• butter is easier to digest than margarine. Can be reduced to 1 tablespoon.
• sucanat is a natural sweetener found in health food stores. Can be omitted.
• to save time, purchase a 16-ounce bag of pre-popped plain popcorn.