Trick or Treat-- Caramel Apples

Well, it's that time of year again........Halloween!!!!!

I loved Halloween as a kid and when our daughter was young, it was so much fun to make special treats for all her friends and classmates that would come knocking.  These past few years, we don't see many little ghosts and goblins, but I still love to make one of my favorite treats....caramel apples.  Most of them get gobbled up by our adult friends these days.

Wash a bunch of small apples, dry them well and insert a popsicle/craft sticks into each one.  Unwrap caramels and put into a microwave-safe bowl. 

Melt the caramels in a microwave-safe bowl, then dip each apple in the melted caramels and then roll in  the broken bar mixture or crushed peanuts.  Place the apples on parchment paper until set..........

After they are set well,you can wrap each apple in plastic wrap and tie with ribbon or string to use as special treats.

  
There are tons of online tutorials, if you get the urge to make some.  I tried a small batch this morning and dipped them in crushed Crispy Crunch bars.  These are so delicious, try some for yourself!!

 Cheers

;o) 

 

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!

Lots of friendship, food and fun all around this weekend to be thankful for.  Friends came over on Saturday and we just sat around the fireplace and had a few glasses of wine......

 Sharon made the most delicious brie and we baked it at our house when they arrived..........yummmy!!

She wrapped the brie and some pecans in a puff pastry, then drizzled it with Kahlua.  It was the best I've had........and we've tried many different brie recipes!

We also tried a new shooter recipe.  This one simply consisted of Butterscotch Ripple, Bailey's and a topping of whipped cream.

Then on Sunday, eleven of us were at Dave & Sharon's house for the Thanksgiving feast...........

Aren't these little centerpieces so nice.  You could change up the contents of the up-turned wineglass for any occasion.....

Dave and Matthew did a very impressive job carving the turkey....................................

 Ray, Sharon's dad, brought fresh potatoes and carrot from his own garden...

 Sharon's mom, Sis whipped the peas pudding to perfection.....

And of course, the crowning glory to any meal at Dave & Sharon's -------one of Sharon's fabulous desserts.  This one was a frozen cheesecake topped with slivered roasted almonds and toasted coconut, drizzled with caramel------need I say more??

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  I hope you had the good fortune to spend it with great friends like we did.

Cheers

:o)

Chocolate Cream Cheese Muffins

I've been really lax about my blog lately---been too busy.  The fall weather has been extraordinary.  I've done loads of gardening, had weekend visitors and I'm now enjoying pet-sitting.  Rana and Mark were out on the weekend for some cod-fishing, so Bailey stayed out to go back to the city with me on Thursday.  Here's a snap of Bailey---we've been taking lots of nice long walks and she also takes lots of nice long naps!!  Ha ha.

 Today is rainy and dull, so it's perfect for baking..............................

 

  

  

 These muffins are awesome--here's the recipe........

Chocolate-Cream Cheese Muffins

8oz             cream cheese

1                 egg

1/3 cup       sugar

1 cup          chocolate chips

Beat first three ingredients together, then add chocolate chips and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together:

2 cups         flour                              1 cup          sugar

¼ cup         cocoa                              1 tsp           baking soda

½ tsp           salt                                1 cup          water

1/3 cup       oil                                  1tsp            vinegar

1 tsp           vanilla

Grease muffin tins and fill 1/3 up with muffin mixture, add tablespoons of cream cheese mixture, then fill with remaining muffin mix.  Bake muffins at 350* F for 20-25 minutes.

 Cheers

:o)

Early Fall colors around Gambo

Cheers

:o)

Bacon Fat Gingersnaps

A friend, Tracy made these a few weeks ago for a function we hosted, and they were such a hit.  It is hard to get past the bacon thing in a cookie, but the flavors blend together amazingly.  There is the slightest hint of smokiness from the bacon that combines so well with that ginger and other spices----yummy!!!!

Click here for the recipe I used.  Here's how mine turned out........

The smell of these cookies baking is pure "soup for the soul".  You just want to grab a tall glass of milk or a big mug of coffee and taste those crunchy delights........You have to try this recipe!

Cheers

:o)