I was spurred to write this post by two things (the usual two): a big life change and a recipe I just had to share.
Showing posts with label candy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label candy. Show all posts
Friday, 3 November 2017
A Life in Seasons (Real Ones!) and Apple Cider Caramels
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I was spurred to write this post by two things (the usual two): a big life change and a recipe I just had to share.
I was spurred to write this post by two things (the usual two): a big life change and a recipe I just had to share.
Sunday, 22 January 2012
The Best of Both Worlds: Nutella Sea Salt Fudge
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I think it's time for a break from attempts at healthiness, don't you? It's the fourth week of January, after all, which means we've been good for a very long time (well, you have, and I've been trying to support your efforts). I think this sea salt-sprinkled Nutella fudge is just the ticket for a brief holiday from Healthtown.
Most people have cravings that lean one way or another: toward salty foods or sweet ones. My mom, for example, isn't that fussed about chocolate or cakes, but put a bag of salt and vinegar Kettle chips in front of her and she'll have to work very hard not to eat the entire sharing-sized container, and then run her finger along the inside creases and lick off the salt. Similarly, my brother was never as into candy as I was when we were growing up, but he loves a rich, heavy, fried or creamy savory meal.
My dad and my sister, on the other hand, love the sweet stuff. When I was in high school, my sister used to always have a drawer full of chocolate-covered fruits from the Whole Foods bulk section, and if you opened her freezer there would be at least two kinds of ice cream, usually Ben&Jerry's and frequently involving chocolate. And my dad can't keep his hands out of bowls of jelly beans or hard candies (which he chews immediately).
I think it's time for a break from attempts at healthiness, don't you? It's the fourth week of January, after all, which means we've been good for a very long time (well, you have, and I've been trying to support your efforts). I think this sea salt-sprinkled Nutella fudge is just the ticket for a brief holiday from Healthtown.
Most people have cravings that lean one way or another: toward salty foods or sweet ones. My mom, for example, isn't that fussed about chocolate or cakes, but put a bag of salt and vinegar Kettle chips in front of her and she'll have to work very hard not to eat the entire sharing-sized container, and then run her finger along the inside creases and lick off the salt. Similarly, my brother was never as into candy as I was when we were growing up, but he loves a rich, heavy, fried or creamy savory meal.
My dad and my sister, on the other hand, love the sweet stuff. When I was in high school, my sister used to always have a drawer full of chocolate-covered fruits from the Whole Foods bulk section, and if you opened her freezer there would be at least two kinds of ice cream, usually Ben&Jerry's and frequently involving chocolate. And my dad can't keep his hands out of bowls of jelly beans or hard candies (which he chews immediately).
Saturday, 2 April 2011
A simple pleasure? Making my own Peppermint Patties
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Somehow the simplest things in life always seem the most difficult for me. A box brownie mix turns out dry and flavorless; grilled chicken ends up pink on the inside and charred on the edges; a walk down the block to buy milk results in a turned ankle, my dress hitched up into my underwear, and tears running down my face half an hour later.
Seriously, I don't know why it's so hard. I can make a Thomas Keller recipe, do a perfect tree pose in yoga, and write a freakin book (two, if you count my shelved novel), but I can't cook the simplest things or perform the most basic tasks.
Somehow the simplest things in life always seem the most difficult for me. A box brownie mix turns out dry and flavorless; grilled chicken ends up pink on the inside and charred on the edges; a walk down the block to buy milk results in a turned ankle, my dress hitched up into my underwear, and tears running down my face half an hour later.
Seriously, I don't know why it's so hard. I can make a Thomas Keller recipe, do a perfect tree pose in yoga, and write a freakin book (two, if you count my shelved novel), but I can't cook the simplest things or perform the most basic tasks.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Who's a gal got to kiss around here to get a little SUCCESS?!
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Yeesh, this week has been rough. I planned on making caramels for the boyfriend's families, and you all know how that went down. Then I decided on toffee, which I was promised could be "super easy," and lemon bars, which I've made a few times and had few problems with (jest you wait, 'enry 'iggins). Now it's the day before my birthday, and we're leaving for the States in 3 days, and today was my last chance to get the gifts to the bf's dad, so things have been escalating for a while. And the end result is that I'm exhausted, so I'll let the photos and captions speak for themselves.
It's a long-un, so just jump to continue.
Yes, technically this is a spoiler: I did finally succeed. But it's the journey, not the destination, that matters.
Yeesh, this week has been rough. I planned on making caramels for the boyfriend's families, and you all know how that went down. Then I decided on toffee, which I was promised could be "super easy," and lemon bars, which I've made a few times and had few problems with (jest you wait, 'enry 'iggins). Now it's the day before my birthday, and we're leaving for the States in 3 days, and today was my last chance to get the gifts to the bf's dad, so things have been escalating for a while. And the end result is that I'm exhausted, so I'll let the photos and captions speak for themselves.
It's a long-un, so just jump to continue.
Monday, 7 December 2009
Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew?
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Not me, apparently. No candyman am I.
I've been trying to make candy all week. I can't make it to my boyfriend's families houses for the holidays, so I wanted to send him with a big, pretty jar of caramels (I was going to make toffee, with chocolate and nuts, but his dad hates chocolate. I KNOW). I found a recipe on Allrecipes.com, which is my new favorite hunting ground because of the number of reviewers and the helpful suggestions they make about cooking time, flavors, etc.
The recipe, found here, looks really easy. There are only 7 ingredients, and the process is basically: put all ingredients in saucepan, bring to boil over medium heat, and when a candy thermometer reads 250 (or 240, as most reviewers suggested), pop it into a greased tray to cool. A few hours later, Bob's-yer-uncle! Easy peasy caramels!
But in this instance, even 217 reviewers and all their collective wisdom couldn't help me. First, there was the problem of the corn syrup the recipe calls for. They don't really do corn syrup here in the UK, so I was back to substituting. The first time around, I used a combo of something called liquid glucose and honey. The consistency seemed right, and I didn't think honey flavor would be a problem. And it wasn't, although it was noticeable.
I've been trying to make candy all week. I can't make it to my boyfriend's families houses for the holidays, so I wanted to send him with a big, pretty jar of caramels (I was going to make toffee, with chocolate and nuts, but his dad hates chocolate. I KNOW). I found a recipe on Allrecipes.com, which is my new favorite hunting ground because of the number of reviewers and the helpful suggestions they make about cooking time, flavors, etc.
The recipe, found here, looks really easy. There are only 7 ingredients, and the process is basically: put all ingredients in saucepan, bring to boil over medium heat, and when a candy thermometer reads 250 (or 240, as most reviewers suggested), pop it into a greased tray to cool. A few hours later, Bob's-yer-uncle! Easy peasy caramels!
So far, so good.
But in this instance, even 217 reviewers and all their collective wisdom couldn't help me. First, there was the problem of the corn syrup the recipe calls for. They don't really do corn syrup here in the UK, so I was back to substituting. The first time around, I used a combo of something called liquid glucose and honey. The consistency seemed right, and I didn't think honey flavor would be a problem. And it wasn't, although it was noticeable.
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