Red Chile Caramel Bacon Popcorn

Ingredients:
10 slices of bacon
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. Taos Spice Merchants Sweet & Spicy Chipotle Rub
non-stick cooking spray
10 cups popped popcorn
3 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tsp. fine sea salt

Directions:
Line bacon side by side on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes, until crispy and brown.
Remove and place on paper towels to drain.
Press the tops with another layer of paper towels. When cool, cut into small pieces.
Mix the baking soda and chipotle rub and set aside.
Prepare a large mixing bowl by spraying generously with cooking spray. Dump the popcorn into the bowl.
Combine sugar, butter, salt and water in a medium saucepan.
Cook without stirring on high heat, until it becomes light golden-yellow caramel.
This should take about 10-12 minutes.
Remove from the heat and add the soda/cayenne mixture.
Carefully, the mixture will bubble up. Add the bacon pieces.
Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn and toss until coated evenly.
Pour the popcorn onto a large baking sheet and flatted and break into small pieces.
Cool to room temp and store in an airtight container.

Click here for Taos Spice Merchants Sweet & Spicy Chipotle Rub