Caramel Popcorn
{family recipe}

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup popcorn

 Directions:
Before making the caramel sauce, pop the popcorn {air-popping is best} and put into a large mixing bowl. Leave off to the side.
Cover an area on your counter with wax paper {I use about 4-5 wax sheets}.

Heat the butter, sugar and corn syrup on medium heat until it boils.
When boiling, keep on medium heat for approximately 3 minutes. Consistency should be thick and gooey.
Turn heat off and add vanilla. Add food coloring {use 1 drop red and 2 drops yellow to make orange}. Mix well.
Drizzle caramel sauce over popcorn, and mix evenly. Immediately, pour the popcorn on top of the wax paper to keep it from drying into a large clump.
Let cool for 2-3 minutes and enjoy! Makes 2 quarts.

Pumpkin Cookies
{recipe by Becky}

My fabulous boss, Becky, brought homemade pumpkin cookies to work last week and they were to die for! So, we made them for our Halloween bash tonight for our family to enjoy.
{Shh…don’t tell – Jess made them three nights ago too and ate them all!}
Thanks, Becky, for sharing your delicious pumpkin cookie recipe with us!

Ingredients:
1 can pumpkin {pie filling}
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 egg
1 cup butter {softened}
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ounces chocolate chips {Becky said she puts in more. we put in 8 ounces}

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream the butter and sugars together. Mix in vanilla extract and egg.
In a separate bowl, combine and mix flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
Alternate adding the flour mixture and the pumpkin to the creamed sugars and butter bowl. Beat until all is added and mixed well.
Stir in chocolate chips. Drop dough in tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 10-13 minutes or until golden brown. {it usually takes more time, about 15 minutes, or make the cookies a bit smaller than tablespoons}
Let cool and enjoy! Makes 4 dozen.