Snickers Popcorn

Snickers Popcorn

8 qts. air popped corn (2 cups of kernels)
2 cups light brown suger, packed
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup salted peanuts
3 oz. melted semi-sweet chocolate (optional)
1 cup salted butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking sode
30 "Fun Size" Snickers bars coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.  Over medium heat, boil butter, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup for five (5) minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in baking soda.  Pour over popcorn and stir to coat evenly.  Transfer to waxed paper lined counter and sprinkle peanuts on top.  Stir until all is coated evenly.  Transfer popcorn into a large roasting pan and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and stir in coarsely chopped Snickers bars.  Return to oven for 3 more minutes so the Snickers bars begin to melt slightly into the popcorn.  Remove from oven and transfer popcorn to wax paper to cool.  Drizzle melted chocolate on top of popcorn, if desired.  Let set and store in an airtight container.