Archive for the 'Confections' Category
Back By Popular Demand…
I hadn’t made caramel corn in several years, and I don’t know why, it’s so easy! I adapted this recipe from Bon Appétit, I didn’t care for how theirs came out, so I omitted some things, and changed it a bit…enjoy!
Pop 1/4 to 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels (old school, not one of those bags)
1 cup chopped pecans
1 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Preheat oven to 250F and generously butter a large jelly roll pan. Mix pecans and popped corn on prepared pan…
Combine brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk over low heat until butter has melted and sugar has dissolved. Clip on candy thermometer, and increase heat to bring mixture to boil without stirring. When thermometer reaches 255F removed from heat and mix in vanilla, salt, then baking soda…Mix WELL mixture will bubble up a bit…Gradually pour over popcorn and pecans stirring with a buttered spatula to coat evenly. This is difficult, but you’ll get another chance to even it out. Place in the oven for about ten minutes, remove and stir again, gently, with a buttered spatula…let cool and it will last about a week in an airtight container or ziploc bag, that is, if no one eats it! ; )
Waffling…
I broke it out, and broke it in, and I have to say, my first try at waffle cones on my lil’ garage sale treasure turned out pretty damn good! I used a recipe from Recipezaar, and while the first couple were awkward, I got the hang of rolling them (could they be any flippin’ hotter?) and pinching the bottom closed…They tasted delish! Time to experiment with chocolate…what else, right? Yum…Oh, the first pic, is because I’m a complete oddball and take pix of things for the heck of it…This whisk, is awesome, I have two sizes, I love them, and I think they’re just from Target, nothing super highfalutin!
The batter was a little thicker than I thought it would be, a good thing!
Took a couple tries to get the amount right…it spreads out a little! ; )
Success!
My taste tester…
I keep all my recipes on my (shameless plug warning) MacBook Pro…
I go to the library, check out cookbooks, and take digital shots of the recipes I like (faster than writing them down!) and keep them all in here…It’s greener for one, and so many books aren’t spiral bound, so what good are they if you have to get something else to keep them open? I do have to make sure it’s out of the way of any liquid, but if something is fantabulous, it’s even easier to share via email, or blog, of course!
Garage Sale Treasure!
I have never been one to go to garage sales, not because I don’t think they’re marvy, they totally are, but I never think to go to ‘em, I usually have both boys with me and I have difficulty puttering around, but, my friend is an uber garage sale-r, and she found these for me!! I got a box FULL of these candy molds, at least 20 years old, for one single dollar…I just couldn’t photograph all of ‘em….and this waffle cone maker, again, probably twenty years old, NEVER OPENED! One dollah…that’s right…and my neighbor makes ice cream, so guess what we’re collaborating on this summer!! Yay!! I’m making some Independence Day cuppies too, will post those soon!
all photos ©andi butler
I love vintage stuff, so anything 20 years old (ouch, when I graduated) or older is fantabulous!
This is my favorite mold, do you remember the large lit up ones in peeps’ yards?
Strawberry Shortcake or Hollie Hobby, can’t tell yet…
Crazy solid bunny mold! There’s a front and a back…
Vintage chick fam!
Victorian looking Santa
See, a dollah!
Ew…got rid of these first thing! But, they were never opened! ; )
