Fathers Week: Maple Bacon Popcorn

I just found this recipe while reading the latest Cosmopolitan.  The July 2011 issue has Rhianna on the cover.  Can you believe Cosmo has a recipe with bacon?  I hinted around with my dad to see if he'd like this, and it sounded like yes, so I'm going to try it. 

What you need:
4 Strips of Bacon
2 T Unsalted Butter plus more as needed
1/2 c Popping Corn
1/4 c Maple Syrup
Salt

• Cook the bacon, on both sides, in a frying pan over low heat. Place the bacon onto a plate lined with paper towels.  Once it cools, crumble and set aside.
• Place the leftover bacon fat into a saucepan that has a tight lid.  Heat on high.  Pour in the corn kernels.  Shake the pan so the kernels do not burn.  Once it has started to quickly pop, reduce the heat to medium.  Once the popping slows, turn the heat to low and finish popping.  Pour the popcorn into a bowl.
• Melt the butter in the microwave.  Drizzle the maple syrup and butter over the popcorn.  Add the bacon and sprinkle with salt.

My dad is so simple.  He says once he dies he wants to be buried in a pine box.  I could put this popcorn in a brown paper bag and he wouldn't think twice about it.  Gotta love that!  But I have found a couple cute ways to package it.  Check here and here.
*Update* After I made this for the first time I added more bacon, double what the recipe says. I thought this was an ok treat. I don't think I'd make it again, but it was fun to try. Also, it needs to be eaten the day you make it. Leftovers get all soggy and gross.