homemade caramel apple from you tube guy

made these wonderful apples from recipe on you tube, so yummy

His name is crouton crackerjacks and find him on youtube.  he shows you exactly how to make it.  I have made this twice now without a candy thermometer and it turned out fine so dont be afraid to make it if you dont have one.  I just bring the mixture to a boil (which took me 4 min) on high, then I turn it down to medium and stir the whole time for about 5 minutes until it was thick and creamy, stirring whole time. Let it cool and it is perfect carmel sauce for dipping apple slices into and banana slices into.


Apples dipped in rich homemade caramel and then rolled in chopped peanuts. You can use whatever you wish to roll these in after they are dipped...chocolate chips, M&M's, chopped candy bars, etc. You can even drizzle them in chocolate after rolling to make them even more gourmet. Not as hard as one might imagine and no unwrapping of dozens of caramels! What you'll need: 8-10 small to medium apples (I used Gala's) 8-10 skewers, chopsticks or popsicle sticks 1 cup butter (do not use margarine) 2 cups packed brown sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk 2 tsp vanilla extract chopped peanuts or topping of your choice waxed paper or parchment paper candy thermometer Thoroughly wash your apples. Remove the stems and insert a stick into the center of each. Dip the apples in near boiling water for 5-10 seconds and then immediately dry them to remove any wax. This may slightly discolor the apples but that's okay. Lay out a piece of waxed paper or parchment paper and thoroughly grease it with butter. Get your topping ready so you can roll the apples immediately after dipping. In a large heavy bottomed sauce pan, stir together butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and sweetened condensed milk. Stir constantly over medium-high heat until butter is melted and insert your candy thermometer. Turn heat down to medium and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until the caramel reaches 245*F on a candy thermometer. When caramel is done, remove from heat, continuing to stir. Let cool for 1-2 minutes and add vanilla. Immediately dip apples and let excess caramel drip off. Roll into the toppings of your choice and set onto buttered wax or parchment paper. Continue with the remaining apples. If your caramel becomes too thick to dip the apples, warm slightly while stirring constantly over medium heat until you can continue dipping more apples. Let cool for 3-4 hours and enjoy!! If you have any remaining caramel, pour onto a surface sprayed with nonstick spray to cool for some awesome caramel candies! Makes delicious caramels to eat plain wrapped in wax paper! yummmmm!

Favorite stuffed avocado salad

Favorite stuffed avocado salad

tomato 
celery
green onion (or red onion)
avocado
lettuce, finely sliced
lemon juice
croutons
italian dressing

Chop tomato, celery, and onion up VERY SMALL.  Mix together and put aside.  Cut an avocado in half and peel the skin off. On your salad plate put some lettuce and put the avocado on top of the lettuce with the hole (where pit was) face up.  Squeeze lemon over the avocado so it doesn't turn brown
Now put a spoonful of the tomato mixture int he hole and sprinkle with salt and pepper
Add some croutons, then drizzle italian dressing over all.

Cold Pea Salad

Want to try this recipe.

Cold Pea Salad
Salad:
1 large bag of frozen peas
1 sweet onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped swiss cheese
1 can whole cashews
1 jar bacon bits or 8 slices of cooked bacon, chopped

dressing:
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Rinse peas in colander to thaw.  Chop onion, cheese and bacon.  Mix mayo and sour cream; add salt and pepper to make dressing. Combine peas, onions, cheese , cashews and bacon bits.  Fold in dressing and serve.

Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Strips

I am getting rid of old cookbooks as they take up too much space and I usually just look online, so as I am reviewing these before i throw them away, here is one I want to try.  Lacey asks me for cinnamon sugar tortilla strips alot, will try this out and let you know if it is a good one to keep:

Sweet tortillas
1 cup sugar
4 tsp cinnamon
6 to 10 (8 1/2 in flour tortillas)
large resealable plastic bag

Combine sugar and cinnamon in a large resealable plastic bag.  Lightly brush water on both sides of tortilla, cut into four wedges, put them into the plastic bag, reseal the bag and gently shake to coat the wedges.  Remove from bag and place on greased baking sheet.  Bake at 375 for 10 to 12 min


and now for the thought for today (it was at bottom of cookbook, ha)
People who know little are usually great talkers, while people who know much say little - Jean Jacques Rousseau

Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl

I found this on instagram from cleanmondaymeals:

Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowls

Ingredients for two servings:

2 sweet potatoes

honey to taste

2 Tblsp raisins

2 Tblsp chopped nuts

2 Tblsp almond butter

2 Tblsp maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:  

Preheat oven to 375 Wash and lightly dry sweet potatoes.  Poke with fork several times and wrap in aluminum foil.  Bake for 60 min or small potatoes for 45 until a fork can easily pierce through the entire sweet potato. 

 Let cool for at least five minutes before peelings.

Peel cooled sweet potato and lightly mash with cinnamon and honey to taste

Mix almond butter, syrup and vanilla together

Top with raisins and chopped nuts and other toppings if desired.  If enjoying right away , drizzle with almond butter, if enjoying later, top with almond butter mixture just before serving and reheating 

Enjoy!!!