What could gameday and Plato possibly have in common? It has to do with bacon so hang with me a sec…
Platonic theory is rooted in the understanding that all realities we perceive – from objects we see such as a chair in the living room to abstractions such as string particle theory – are mere recognitions, not inventions. Basically, Plato argued that everything had to exist in the universe in some form before solidifying under a title contrived by the human mind.
What a gorgeous worldview if you ask me because it means we are not truly in charge, and whew.
Anyway, given this premise, we can only conclude that the following recipe is DIVINE. Because the concoction was out there somewhere in God’s universe before Nikki’s grandmother made it (see original recipe card in her handwriting). Granddaughter Nikki – an extraordinary interior designer, artist, and dear friend – translated this stuff into something even more phenomenal, more addictive. Make this for your next game-day party or tailgate and be consigned to bring it to every event for the rest of your life.
Plato’s Popcorn
½ lb. bacon, cooked and chopped, grease reserved
1 c./2 sticks butter
3 c. brown sugar
¾ c. corn syrup
2 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cayenne pepper
9 popped quarts plain popcorn, air-popped preferred
Salt
Preheat the oven to 250°F. Have ready a large, buttered roasting pan.
Cook the bacon in a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, remove meat to drain on paper towels. To the bacon fat in the pan, add the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, salt and cayenne. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium heat. Turn heat to medium and let cook without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda.
Place the popped popcorn in the roaster and pour the caramel over it in two stages, mixing between and after each addition. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes and adding the bacon to cook for the last 15 minutes.
Spread out over parchment paper and sprinkle with salt. Allow to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Errin Stevens blogs, bakes, gardens, and chases dust bunnies at her home in St. Paul, Minnesota. Her three novels – Updrift, Breakwater, and Outrush – are available everywhere fine books are sold, and you can visit her web site at https://errinstevens.com/
Originally posted 2024-11-02 18:00:20.
