When I'm not blogging, talking on my cell phone or listening to my iPod, I like to pretend I am a pioneer mother. I used to want to be Mary or Laura Ingalls...but now, I just wanna be "Ma." Wasn't she the BEST?
That's why I love cooking things from scratch. It feels so wholesome and old-fashioned and my kids are all around and we're making a big mess and listening to Christmas carols and planning who we're going to share our goodies with.
If you are not yet going completely Christmas crazy, I recommend making something homemade and old-fashioned.
This is not the easiest caramel recipe in the world...but the results are so delicious. It is definitely a once-a-year treat! Enjoy...
Perfect Caramels
2 cups light Karo syrup
2 cups sugar
3 cups whipping cream--scalded in microwave
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. vanilla
1/2 can Eagle Brand milk--scalded in microwave
1 cup chopped walnuts (I never add these)
Boil syrup and sugar until the mixture begins to change color. Stir constantly. (I usually cheat on this part...not stirring constantly, but keeping on medium low heat and checking a lot!) Add whipping cream gradually. Keep boiling rapidly. Add Eagle milk a little at a time. Boil to a medium hard ball stage or 230 degrees. (This will take about 17-25 minutes.) Add salt, nuts and vanilla before removing from heat. Pour into a shallow buttered pan. Cool and cut into 1 inch squares, wrap in wax paper or cellophane.
10 comments:
My Grandma makes that same recipe and they are DIVINE! I think in honor of her and you and dentists all across the country, I'll make some!
Oh Baby, I hear you with the orthodontia. Just keep telling yourself it's not your fault.
Caramels look delish. Wish I lived down the street.
Looks awesome. Now you are really going to have to adopt my son. You truly are one of those cool moms. (See my post today).
I wish I lived around the corner, too! Making caramels the way the Ingalls family did would have it's down side. I made taffy once over a fire at girl's camp, and it took 3 hours to get it cooked enough to pull. We had to pull it at midnight, and although it was delicious, the next morning we could see all the bugs that had been stirred in. They tasted like nuts in the dark.
I don't want to be them, but I think about them whenever I'm doing domestic duties. Like last night, when I was rotating laundry, I was SOOOO glad I don' have to hand-wash it all. I wouldn't be wearing this many outfits, that's for sure.
Ok, for the record, it's not really me, just my kids. I've probably been in the same outfit for a few too many days this week. It's time to get out of the house. ;-)
Way to channel your inner pioneer. Orthodontia- orthschmontia. I say, LET THEM EAT SWEETS!
mmm. these look delicsh. gab, you help me realize that old fashioned from scratch recipes for dinner still exists! way to be a true pioneer. i may make those taffys .. thanks for inspiration.
mmm. these look delicsh. gab, you help me realize that old fashioned from scratch recipes for dinner still exists! way to be a true pioneer. i may make those taffys .. thanks for inspiration.
I feel like I am connecting with my roots whenever I make homemade bread. Especially the kneading part. But then I got my new high powered Kitchen Aid and I discovered its just as much fun to watch in "knead" and keep my hands and counters clean.
I think I"ll make some bread today. THanks for the inspiration.
Have you ever visited the blog of The Pioneer Woman
(thepioneerwoman.com) She also has a cooking blog.(thepioneerwomancooks) She makes you want to run out and live in the country.
Those caramels look sooo good!
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