Soft Caramel Corn

This one is for Ann, Bruce's aunt, who is old enough to be my sister.
So nobody else can use this recipe!

SOFT CARAMEL CORN

lots of popped popcorn (I popped about 1 1/2 cups)

1/2 cup butter

1 cup corn syrup

2 cups brown sugar, packed

1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp. vanilla

salt (optional)

Combine butter, corn syrup and brown sugar in a heavy saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Add sweetened condensed milk and simmer, stirring constantly, until it reaches the "soft ball" stage (about 240 degrees). Add vanilla. Pour over popcorn and mix well. If you want, shake a little salt over the top of it and then mix it well again. Makes yummy popcorn balls too!