Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine syrup, butter, Sucanat and salt in saucepan until butter is melted. Boil without stirring 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla (add nuts if using). Pour over popcorn. Mix well. Place on 2 large cook sheets. Bake for 15 minut4es. Cool. Break into pieces. Freezes well. Notes: ~ Butter is easier to digest than margarine. Can be reduced to 1 tablespoon. ~ Sucanat is a natural sweetener found in health food stores. Can be omitted. ~To save time, purchase a 16-ounce bag of pre-popped plain popcorn. Source: Nicola B. Godfrey, Copley News Service in The News Tribune, 11/95.