The Best Caramel Corn

I promise this is worth the trouble. I dropped some on the floor and our very well behaved Boxer, who never begs for food, snapped it up, put both paws on the kitchen counter, looked at the bags and whinned so piteously I had to break down and put some in his food bowl.

16 cups popped corn ( works out to 4 regular bags microwave popcorn)
2 cups light brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup butter ( do not use margarine, its a totally different taste)
1/2 tsp cram of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
Nuts optional
16 oz peanuts or pecans if you're southern and feeling fancy

Dissolve sugar, butter, syrup and cream of tartar over low heat, boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly, add soda, pour over pop corn. Toss to coat and bake in shallow pan 30 minutes at 250 degrees. Stir every 5 minutes or so.
Cool and bag.