CARAMELS!!

First Melt 1 C. butter in a large saucepan

Then add 2 1/4 C. Brown sugar

Stir until all the sugar is combined

Add 1 C. Light Corn Syrup

add 1 can sweetened condensed milk stirring constantly

stir until combined

continue stirring constantly. you will notice the color changing

 Cook until a firm ball stage. it really depends on where you live and how soft you want. I do mine 250 that gives you a really soft almost melt in your mouth type....the other day i did 252 and got a soft chewy kind. we liked both. however my 11 year old likes the softer one (she has braces so that may be why)

add 1 tsp vanilla the last 4 min or so. i usually add it about 5 degrees to what I want it to

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU STIR THIS CONSTANTLY!!

 pour into a 9x13 GREASED pan. I have been using a 11X13 pan for mine

 Cool - I stick mine in the fridge for 1-2 hours

then cut into squares

Then get your 11 year old to help wrap them in wax paper

 Enjoy!! 

*I didnt use salt because my butter is salted :)

Another fun variation is do dip in chocolate after cutting the squares

Caramels

1 C. butter

2 1/4 C. brown sugar

1/8 tsp salt

1 C. light corn syrup

14 oz sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp vanilla

Melt butter; add brown sugar and salt mixing well. Stir in corn syrup. Gradually add milk. stirring constantly. Cook and stir over medium heat until reaches firm ball stage (245-252) This will take 10-15 minutes. Add vanilla last 5 minutes. Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Let cool. Cut into squares and wrap in wax paper.

Pumpkin pull apart bread

These are super yummy. Similar to monkey bread as my kids thought it was. Lol

Dough
2 tbsp butter
1/2 c milk
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
3/4 c pumpkin purée
1/4 c sugar
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 c bread flour

Filling
1 c sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
3 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Glaze
2 tbsp butter
1/8 c brown sugar
1 1/2 tbsp milk
3/4 c powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla

In a saucepan over med high heat brown 2 tbsp butter. Once browned remove from heat and add the milk.
Return to heat until milk is heated
Pour into the bowl of a mixer with hook and allow to cool until 100•F. Once it has reached the temp add yeast and sugar and let poof about 10 min. Then add pumpkin, salt and 1 c flour. Stir until combined then add the rest of the flour 1 c at a time. And knead 6 min until dough is smooth and elastic and just slightly sticky. If its too sticky add flour a few tbsp at a time. (I had to add about an extra cup or so )

Move dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a towel. Allow to rise 60-90 min or until doubled in size.
While dough is rising brown another 2 tbsp butter. Add the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix well. Set aside. Next grease a 9x5 ( bread size) pan.
Set aside.

When the dough has doubled punch it down and flip on a floured board. Knead in hands 1-2 min. Roll out to a 20x12 rectangle. Even sprinkle the sugar cinnamon mixture. And press into the dough with your hands. Cut rectangle into 6 even strips then stack on top of each other and cut into 6 pieces. Stack strips vertically in pan.
Cover with a clean towel and let rise for 30-45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350. Bake 30-40 min
Until very brown.
To prepare the glaze heat butter, milk and brown sugar in saucepan. Bring to a boil then remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar bad vanilla. Poor on bread after baking.

Asian salad

So yummy!!! And simple

1 head napa cabbage sliced thinly
1/3 c toasted pine nuts
1/4 c toasted sesame seeds
4 green onions sliced thinly
2 shredded carrots ( can do more or less)
Sugar snap peas ( I sliced mine in half)

Dressing:
1/3 c olive oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1/4 c red wine vinegar
1/4 c sugar
1tbsp minced garlic

Mix salad on a bowl then mix the dressing and pour on top. Yum!!

Apple brown Betty

This is a very easy and basic recipe but very yummy!!

8 slices wheat bread
3-6 apples depending on size
1 1/2 c brown sugar
1 cup butter ( I only used 1/2)

Homemade whip cream

Preheat oven to 375
Grease 13x9 pan
Slice bread and apples onto cubes
Place half the bread cubes in pan
Sprinkle half the apples
Add half the brown sugar
Repeat with again. Dot top with pats of butter. End by sprinkling 1/2 c water over it by the tablespoon. Bake covered for 45 min then bake 10 more min uncovered to brown. Serve with whip cream on top.

Fun Easter deviled eggs

So I forgot to post these. I did them for Easter. Kids loved them. All too do or hard boil the eggs scoop out the yolks then put the whites in a bowl of water with desired color. Takes about an hour to get desired color. Then make as you would your deviled eggs.

Roasted Brussel sprouts

Yeah I know not everyone's fav but these are actually good. I got some in my basket and so I tried a new recipe and it was a success!

Cut your Brussel sprouts into quarter wedges. Stick on baking sheet and drizzle a good amount of olive oil and Toss well to coat. Then sprinkle on salt and pepper. Roast in a 400 degree oven about 20 min until browned.

Dipping sauce:
6 tbsp mayo
2 tsp minced garlic
3 tbsp chopped parsley
Mix well and dunk Brussel sprouts in.

orange rolls!

These are soo yummy!! YOU WANT TO MAKE THESE........NOW!!!!!

in a bowl mix 1 Tbsp active yeast in 1/3 C. warm water and 1/2 tsp sugar. give it a little stir and let it poof about 5 min. While its poofing:

in your stand mixer bowl add 1C. scaled milk cooled (i put it in the microwave for 90 sec then let it cool while i added the other ingredients), 3 Tbsp melted butter, 3 eggs and mix with wire wisk. then add 1 C. flour and 1/2 C. sugar. By this time the yeast should be poofed so add that and gently mix.  Then add 3 C. flour and 1 tsp salt. You may need more flour. You dont want it overly sticky. It should come off the sides of the bowl. I think I added close to 4 C. total. Then take it out and drizzle some olive oil in the bowl and add the dough back and roll it so its all been coated. I let mine rise in the dryer to speed up the process. I put 3 big towels in and put it on high about 5 min then turned it off and put the bowl in covered in saran wrap and put the towel around the bowl and let it rise (with the dryer off!!) while i prepared the good stuff ;)
so while your dough is rising: melt 1 Stick of butter. Then add the zest of 2 oranges and 1/2 C. sugar. set aside. This will go on the dough.

Now in another bowl we're gonna make the icing.
1/2 stick softened butter, juice of 3 oranges, 1 tsp vanilla and about a half a bag powdered sugar.  You want it a bit thinner than frosting so you can put it on the warm rolls and it will seep throughout the entire roll.

Preheat oven to 375

After this your dough should be doubled in size. Roll out into a rectangle about 1/4" thick. Spread the orange zest goodness all around it. I sprinkled it with cinnamon too. then Roll it tight jelly style. Then pinch the ends to its sealed and cut about 1 1/4" inches thick and put in a greased 13X9 pan. I got 12 rolls but it depends on how big you cut yours on how many you will get. Let them rise a bit. Not too much as they will rise in the oven. just until they are all touching. I use a heating pad under my pan on high and it rises in about 15 minutes. Make sure you cover your pan.

Bake in your preheated oven for 20 min until they are browned. Let cool about 5 min then put the icing all over. YUMMY!!!!