Caramel Popcorn

8 cups of plain popped popcorn
3/4 cup brown sugar
6 T. butter
3 T. corn syrup
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. baking soda
1/4 t. vanilla

Combine sugar, butter, syrup and salt in saucepan over medium heat. Stir with a wooden spoon.
As soon as it comes to a boil, stop stirring and cook an additional 5 min.
Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla. Pour over popcorn and gently stir.
Bake at 350 for 15-20 stirring every 5 minutes.
Spread out on waxed paper to cool.

**Optional: stir in nuts when pouring caramel over popcorn.
**Optional: drizzle chocolate over popcorn while it is cooling.