Caramels

I must confess, this is a holidays-only recipe for me.  They are so yummy, but let's be honest.  There is nothing good for you in caramels.  If you're like me, and still eating like a little piglet until Sunday, then make a batch and indulge.  Your mouth won't be sorry (but your waist might).

3 cups whipping cream, divided
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups Karo light syrup

Spray a 9x13 pan generously with cooking spray, then use a paper towel to wipe out excess.  Make sure sides and corners of pan are covered.

In a large sauce pan, combine sugar, Karo, and 1 cup whipping cream.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.  Let the mixture bubble (rapidly, but not violently) until it reaches the soft ball stage*.  Once it has reached the soft ball stage, stir in 1 cup whipping cream.  Let the mixture bubble/simmer until it reaches the soft ball stage again.  Stir in last cup of whipping cream.  Let mixture bubble/simmer to the firm ball stage**.  Pour quickly into prepared 9x13 pan.  Let cool, then cut into squares and wrap in individual bits of wax paper to keep fresh.

*I'm sure you can use a candy thermometer to help you get to the soft ball stage, but they've never worked for me and I'm too lazy to track one down and wash it afterward. It takes about 20 minutes on medium-low heat on my stove to get to the soft ball stage.  At about 17 minutes, I begin testing it by placing a teaspoon-sized drop of the caramel mixture into a little ramekin filled with cool water.  If I can shape the caramel into a soft ball and pick it up out of the water, then it's ready.

**For the firm ball stage, it takes about 25 minutes on medium-low on my stove.  I test it just like I would for the soft ball stage, except a firm ball should hold together a bit better and feel slightly more solid (but not hard).

Sinful Caramel Corn

I cannot get enough of caramel corn, and while I know there are tons of yummy recipes out there, this is my favorite.  Using microwaved kettle corn makes it quick, and it makes so much that if it's just for my little family, I'll half the recipe.


1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 3.5-oz. bags microwave kettle corn, popped

Spray a large mixing bowl with nonstick spray.  Weed out unpopped kernels from the microwave bags, and pour popcorn into the bowl.

In a large sauce pan, melt butter.  Stir in brown sugar, Karo syrup, and salt.  Bring to a boil, and cook until it reaches the "soft ball" stage (be warned: when it's fully boiling, this happens fast . To test it, drop a teaspoonful of the caramel into a little dish filled with cool water.  If you can shape it into a ball, and it holds together, it's done.)  Off the heat, sprinkle baking soda and let the mixture foam (stirring if you see any baking soda lumps). 

Pour caramel over popcorn, and stir until well coated.  Store uneaten (if you have any) caramel corn in Ziplocs, or make sure the bowl is tightly covered.

Halloween Eyeballs

I know it's a bit late to post this one, but it's soooo cute...a good one to have on record for next year's parties!

2 Cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup Karo syrup
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

Mix together peanut butter, Karo syrup and butter. Gradually add powdered sugar. Mix until it is a smooth, soft dough. Roll into 1" balls. Place in cool area to set up (NOT the fridge or freezer)

1 pkg white candy melts (melted) you can get these at most craft stores...you can also try white chocolate chips, but I found the candy chips to work better
1 small package M&M candies
Red gel frosting (or- at specialty craft stores they have write-on decorating pens that work terrifically for this!)
Black gel frosting

Using a fork or dipping tool. I used a fork like a spoon and placed the ball on top of the fork, dropped it into the melted candy chips and just spooned the candy over it. Then pick up the ball with the fork (like a spoon) and gently shake it to let the candy evenly coat the ball and drip off the excess.

After dipping, immediately place and M&M on top, gently pressing down (if the chocolate sets before you put the M&M on, it will crack) Let the dipped balls sit to set up. Lastly, decorate with the red gel for blood vessels and black gel for the pupil.


Scarily Delicious!!!

Gooey Chex Mix

My good friend made this and brought it to share with us in Bear Lake a few weeks ago, and I have been craving more ever since. Again, make sure you have someone to share with or you will eat the whole batch yourself! This is a fun snack treat for kids!

1 cup butter
1 cup light Karo syrup
1 cup sugar
6 cups rice chex
6 cups honey grahams
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup cashew halves
1 cup coconut

Mix all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

Stir butter, karo syrup and sugar in a pan and boil for 3-4 minutes. Pour hot mixture over dry ingredients. Mix well.

Spread mix on wax paper and let sit for 1 hour (or don't, I start munching as soon as it is mixed!).

Caramel Popcorn

Our Young Women had a little recipe swap tonight, and it made me realize what a slacker I have been about posting recipes. When you never feel like cooking (thank you pregnancy) you don't think about recipes much. Anyway, this caramel popcorn is a family favorite and really easy to make. But, be warned, it is utterly addicting, so make sure you have somebody to share it with if you don't want to eat it all yourself!

5 quarts popped popcorn
10 oz. bag of mini-marshmallows
2 sticks (1 c.) butter
1 1/3 c. sugar
½ c. light Karo syrup
½ tsp. vanilla

Pop popcorn. Mix marshmallows with popcorn. Mix butter, sugar and Karo syrup in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Add to popcorn and marshmallows. Mix together and form into balls/shapes/etc or be lazy like me and eat it straight from the bowl!

Caramelled Popcorn

I have loved making this recipe since I was little. It is really easy and very yummy, but kind of messy!

5 quarts popped popcorn
10 oz. bag of mini-marshmallows
2 sticks (1 c.) butter
1 1/3 c. sugar
½ c. light Karo syrup
½ tsp. vanilla

Pop popcorn. Mix marshmallows with popcorn. Mix butter, sugar and Karo syrup in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Add to popcorn and marshmallows. Mix together and form into balls/shapes/etc.

Grandma Bell's Caramels

Okay, these have got to be the best caramels you will ever eat and they are pretty easy to make (if I can do it, anyone can). Because of the altitude in Utah, you will want to get the temperature up to 230 degrees instead of 240 as it says. Basically, it has to get to the "firm ball" stage - 1/2 tsp. of the candy will roll into a firm, but not hard, ball when dropped in cold water, and will flatten out a few minutes after being removed from the water.

2 cups sugar
2 cups whipping cream
2 cups dark corn syrup
1/4 cups butter

In a heavy saucepan, mix sugar, syrup and 1 c. cream. Boil to 240° on medium heat. Set off stove and add the other 1 cup of cream. Stir in well, then bring back to 240°. Remove from heat and stir in butter. Pour into buttered pan, 9x13 inches and cool overnight. Cut into pieces and wrap in waxed paper squares.

If you want nuts in your caramel, put them in the bottom of the buttered pan before pouring the caramel in.

This is an excellent caramel for caramel popcorn. Cook only to about 236° each time, then pour over popped corn and stir to coat well. Pour out on counter top and separate into small chunks. Let cool. Place in airtight container.

Welcome

Since I am such a dork about cooking and need all the help I can get, I have decided that this blog would be a great way to get some new recipes, share some of my favorites, and keep them all in one place for easy search and reference. I hope that there will be many contributions from all of you and that it will become a great resource for us all!

So here's what I am thinking. If you want to post recipies, click here to email me your email address so I can add you as an author. I will remain the admin for the blog, but I will add as many people as would like to be added as authors. The more the merrier (and the more yummy recipes for all to try)!

Let's get cookin'!