Baked Caramel Corn + My Day in Photos
When you read a blog, there may be stunning photography. There may be insightful prose. There may be mouthwatering recipes. Sometimes, there’s all three. But without personality, the blog just wouldn’t…be.
With each post, you get to know the person behind it a little more, and when people who advise continually state “find your voice” – I think that it simply boils down to “share yourself.”
Sometimes you share just enough. Sometimes you share more. It may also be that you find other ways to get to know the person behind the blog. Maybe that’s why I love Instagram so much. It’s where I can get those little peeks into daily life, and where I can share mine.
This week I had all kinds of delicious ideas, but to be honest, I was feeling a little lost and wasn’t sure how to share it with you. So I procrastinated, and read a little from the Alt Summit blog. Have you checked it out recently? I’ve been stalking it because I was on the road for my sister’s wedding when the tickets for the Altitude Design Summit in Salt Lake City were released. They sold out in minutes, probably while I was on the road. Bummed. I was totally bummed.
But the Alt blog has been growing and inspiring – I loved one of their latest posts about sharing yourself with your online community. I was taken by one thing in particular – sharing your day in pictures, one hour at a time, with little or no text. So today, I thought I would do just that. Be sure to check out what I nibbled on at 12 pm. I know you’re going to love it!
For blogging inspiration and business advice check out the new Alt blog. And keep your fingers crossed – hoping some Alt Summit tix come my way!
Baked Caramel Corn
Yield: 6 quarts
Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
At our dear friends' 15th wedding anniversary party last weekend, there was a huge bowl of the most amazing caramel corn. Aside from the handfuls I devoured that night, they sent us home with a huge bag more. I'm almost embarrassed to say it's all gone...and mostly by me.
Ingredients:
6 quarts popped popcorn
Nonstick Cooking Spray
1 cup butter
2 cups firmly-packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light or dark corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups cashews or your favorite nutsDirections:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
Coat the bottom and sides of a large roasting pan with cooking spray. Place popped popcorn in roasting pan.
In a heavy saucepan, slowly melt the butter over medium low heat. Stir in the brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Heat to a boil, stirring constantly, then boil without stirring for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in baking soda and vanilla.
Gradually pour over popcorn and mix well. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely.
Break the popcorn apart and store in a tightly-covered container.
Recipe courtesy Rochelle Leininger.
I love this peek into your day, Liren! Too fun! As for the caramel corn, yes please!!
This is too cute!! LOVE it.
Liren, this was a fun post to SEE. Your life looks so tidy and organized. Just for fun I think I will take a photo an hour of my day and then ask my daughter to do the same. It would be a fun way to connect – especially fun to have an hourly glimpse into the life of a college student. She, of course, might not be quite as excited about it. :) Anyway, thanks for sharing the caramel corn recipe. Sounds easy and delicious – and it’s a perfect time of year to be enjoying caramel corn.
You are such a great mommy Liren! The kids are lucky you take such great care of them. I love your 6.a.m., cause I’m still a hot mess who can’t see well enough to figure out how to work the micro to make my tea because I still can’t see. I’ll cross my fingers for you.
-Gina-
This series is so much fun! Love all of these photos!
Super cute post! And thank you for your idea of leaving a note in a lunch box. That’s such a lovely idea (that I didn’t think of!) and I’m going to start from next week. :) Busy mommy schedule but your photograph makes it look so elegant. :) Love caramel corn and looks delicious!!
:) LOVE it!
Love, love, love this post. The “good luck” napkin shot made me teary. :) The popcorn shot made me hungry!
Hi! I’m making the caramel corn now and am wondering when to add the nuts! Thanks! Looks delish and very cute post!
Liren – what a wonderful post! Very cleaver. Will have to check out the ALT. I am a sucker for really great caramel corn and yours looks supreme!!! Happy Saturday!!!
Liren this brings me back when my sons were babies…over 35 years ago…
How I miss those days…..thanks for the memories….
Totally LOVED how you narrated your day in photos :D
Such a great idea for a blog post ~ thanks for sharing your world and this FUN with us!
I just found your blog via Pinterest and how glad I am! Nice to meet you.
liren replied: — September 30th, 2012 @ 8:58 am
Great to meet you, too Allison!
Love this! It’s been years since my life looked like this, but you make it all look so easy! Really wonderful.