Jack Bowen visits Google's San Francisco office to present his book "If You Can Read This: The Philosophy of Bumper Stickers". This event took place on April 21, 2010, as part of the Authors@Google series. "Imagine speeding along the freeway while your driver, Ludwig Wittgenstein, dissects and reassembles the bumper-sticker "wisdom" on passing cars. Thats the kind of trip it is to read If You Can Read This."—Tom Cathcart and Dan Klein, authors of Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar "In the sense of being pregnant with meaning, this book has a baby on board."—Christopher Hitchens, author of God Is Not Great Readers may find themselves involved in fender benders once they realize how much fun it is to think about the messages in bumper stickers and start tailgating in order to read and analyze them. A fantastic contribution to philosophy as it occurs in the real world.—John Perry, co-host of the nationally syndicated Philosophy Talk, professor emeritus of philosophy at Stanford University "If you love twitter (and even if you don't), you're going to love Jack Bowen's insightful and hilarious romp through the pre-twitter world of bumper sticker sloganeering. On every page I had two reactions: (1) a vigorous horse laugh, and (2) a curious 'uh, I didn't know that.' Humor and insight: what more can you ask from a book? Sex. Yes, it has that too. Read this book."—Michael Shermer, Publisher of Skeptic magazine, monthly columnist for Scientific American, author of Why People ...
Monday, December 26, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Bucket Mouse Trap - In Action
IR-CCTV recording of a mouse getting caught in a bucket baited with peanut butter
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Galena's Kandy Kitchen
Galena's Kandy Kitchen specializes in small batches of hand-dipped chocolates and handmade confections such as "pecan Georgies," fudge and caramel apples in the fall. The store stocks old-fashioned bulk candy displayed in wooden barrels.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Mezcal In Oaxaca, Mexico
Think of mezcal as you would a single malt scotch, or better yet when comparing red wines of different vintages from the regions of France. Or perhaps grape varietals from the diversity of valleys and coastal areas in Australia. Forget about the worm for the time being, and forever the reputation with the college crowd of mezcal's better known sister, tequila.
INTRODUCTION
Mezcal is made from the agave plant, often referred to as maguey. Its production, according to most recent evidence, actually pre-dates the Spanish Conquest. Many of today's facilities use the same age-old technique, although some of the tools of the trade have been changed, for example from the use of clay pots for manufacture and storage, to copper serpentine for distillation, and oak and glass for aging and transporting.
It is estimated that there are about 5,000 production facilities in the State of Oaxaca (where most mezcal is produced), less than 150 of which are members of the regulated association. Most are tiny mom and pop operations serving a local community and its hinterland, some produce the spirit for distribution in primarily the City of Oaxaca, and there are a handful catering to the export market. However, in all three instances there is a broad range of quality in terms of smoothness, flavor nuances and smokiness. In fact the well-entrenched tradition of Oaxacans discerning personal palate-worthiness of different mezcals, manifests not through sampling store-bought designer bottles with smart labels, but rather from acquiring multi-liter receptacles from towns and villages in different regions of the state.
Product diversity exists for three primary reasons. Firstly, as is the case with grape varieties in wine production there is a range of agave suitable for mezcal production. Secondly, we find micro-climates yielding plants with subtle differences based on for example soil composition and length and quality of growing season, again similar to what we find regarding vineyards. Finally there is significant variation in the means of production as determined by the mezcalero, or brewmaster if you will. Each decision is crucial in determining the quality of the finished product, beginning with choosing the precise time when the plant is ready for harvest.
PRODUCTION
In Oaxaca there are well over 50 varieties of maguey, roughly 18 of which are used in the production of mezcal. However, about 90% of mezcal is made with the espadín agave, perhaps 5% uses tobalá, and the remaining types, found predominantly in the wild, comprise the balance. Espadín is similar to the blue agave traditionally used in the production of tequila. However, since blue agave grows in different climates than does espadín, the geographical distinction alone is enough to create a differentiation in taste. But the main difference between mezcal and tequila is that the latter is produced using stone ovens or stainless steel tanks for cooking, while the former in most instances still employs the centuries old method of baking the agave in an in-ground oven over firewood and river rocks.
The investment of time required to produce a bottle of mezcal begins with 8 years, being how long one must usually wait between transplanting a tiny agave plant produced from runner or cut from its tall stock, and harvest. Towards the end of the growth period, the stock shoots up, signifying the initial stage of readiness. The stock is cut down, and for several months thereafter nutrients gather in the base of the plant known as the piña because of its appearance once the leaves are removed. It is this central core of the agave which is transported by truck or on the backs of donkeys to market (the factory), and not the spiny succulent leaves which in effect are discarded once cut from the piña, the spherical form of which is only then revealed. It takes approximately 7 tons of raw piña to produce 1,000 liters of mezcal, depending on the type of mezcal being produced.
A pit dug into the earth and measuring about 8' deep by 12' in diameter is preheated for a couple of days with thick smoldering logs, on top of which are then placed river rocks. After the rocks have become red-hot, a thin layer of discarded fibrous material from another stage of the process is often placed atop, serving to insulate the rocks from the piñas which are piled on top of the heated rocks, forming a mound, perhaps 4' - 5' above ground level. Traditionally the small hill would then be covered with a woven palm leaf mat known as a petate, but now a sheet of synthetic product such as grain sack material is used, sometimes in conjunction with the petate. Then all is covered with earth so as to ensure the contents of the mound remains airtight. Finally and for good measure a few logs are placed on top of the heap of earth.
The agave bakes for 2 - 3 days, absorbing the characteristics of the earth, any clay brick used to line the pit, charred wood and smoke. (It's important to keep in mind the particulars of each step during which distinct flavor and smokiness may be imparted.) Carbohydrates or starches are converted into fermentable sugars. With its now carmel-like sweetness, the piñas are ready to be removed, then cut into small pieces with the use of a machete, and thereafter crushed by a horse or donkey dragging a multi-ton circular concrete wheel over a round, low-walled area in which the charred piña pieces have been placed.
The pulverized cooked agave together with any extracted juices is then pitched into large pine vats where it is left to ferment for between 5 and 15 days depending on the then prevailing climactic conditions. Only a bit of water is added to the wooden receptacles which are either covered with plastic or left exposed to the air. No chemicals or other substances or agents, either man-made or natural, are added.
The fermented by-product at about 6% alcohol content is then placed in a brick still, heated with firewood. The vapor rises into copper piping which leads to a companion vat filled with water and the continuation of the copper piping, serpentine in shape entering the tank of water. The water cools the vapor in the tubing. A small spigot at the bottom allows a liquid, mezcal, to slowly drip out into a provisional receptacle. It is normally distilled for a second time, often with the addition of further fermented agave, using a recipe determined by the master mezcalero, to bring the finished product to the desired alcohol content, usually about 40% alcohol by volume. Mezcal is now in its purest form, known as blanco, before aging or the use of additives such as herbs, fruit or the worm.
THE GUSANO
The gusano worm is in fact not a worm, but rather a caterpillar, an infestation to which the agave plant is susceptible. However, in the production and sale of mezcal it has served three primary functions over the years. Firstly, prior to there being any labeling or regulation of mezcal, a gusanito was inserted into a bottle of mezcal as proof to the purchaser that the liquor had a sufficiently high alcohol content. The worm's preservation in the mezcal, without any decomposition, signified that the alcohol content ought to be acceptable to the purchaser. Secondly, today the worm is a valuable marketing tool. Often the one to finish the bottle is expected to ingest the gusano remaining at the bottom. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it adds a distinct and appealing flavor to the mezcal as well as smoothness, particularly crucial if the mezcal is otherwise not particularly suave or has not yet been aged in wood.
The gusano has been a staple in Oaxacan cookery for generations, often purchased live in the marketplace, or dried, sometimes with 100 strung up into a necklace. Some of the finest prepared salsas are made with ground gusano. And of course there is sal de gusano, a combination of salt, chili and worm, used not only in the ritual of imbibing, but also to bring out and add flavor to fruit, to rim glasses used to serve other alcoholic beverages, and more.
TASTING NOTES
The three main types of traditional mezcal one encounters are blanco or joven (young), reposado and añejo. The first represents mezcal which has come directly from the still without any aging whatsoever, except while in glass or plastic receptacles awaiting bottling or sale. It can be quite sharp or strong, but is also encountered in a rather smooth state depending on the skill level of the mezcalero, percentage alcohol, number of distillations, and so on.
Reposado literally means lying down, resting, or reposing, so when one finds mezcal reposado it's been aged, in theory in oak barrels anywhere from 3 to 18 months or so, but frequently simply allowed to sit for a period of time with fruit in it which imparts flavor and smoothness. Añejo, by contrast, signifies mezcal which is mature or aged, having been kept for generally 3 or more years in French or American oak barrels sometimes previously used for wine or brandy, or perhaps charred inside to produce a distinct taste. A good añejo which has been carefully distilled and aged has a fine, smokey essence and is extremely smooth.
One can encounter joven or reposado with gusano, but virtually never an añejo with the worm because the latter has already had a great deal of time and effort expended in producing a product of the finest of quality. Notwithstanding that industry controls are by and large lacking apart from with those producers which are members of the association, it's rare that one finds a small operation which even purports to produce añejo. However they may have other varieties in addition to the foregoing three or four staples.
In Spanish "pechuga" means breast. Within the context of mezcal manufacture, true mezcal pechuga has been made by hanging a raw chicken breast in the still during production, imparting in the spirit a subtle flavor nuance and a bit of body created by the minute percentage of fat which has been allowed to vaporize. One should exercise caution in purchasing what is purported to be true mezcal pechuga, once again because of the matter of lack of industry control. In some rural operations one sometimes encounters pechuga which is dark in color. The mezcalero may state that indeed it has been made with chicken breast, the color having been derived from aging with fruit. Whether chicken has actually been used in production is not certain unless you witness the process. That is not to state that the mezcal should be avoided since we've sampled some excellent rural pechuga....only to warn that with what the mezcal has been made might be debatable.
The balance of mezcals one is apt to taste fall into two broad categories. The first is a spirit similar to the above-noted selections, with no additives except a particular herb or fruit zest. Regarding the latter, one well-known producer, Mezcal del Amigo, has a citrus mezcal. Similar to the citrus mezcal is cedrón, a local herb producing a pleasant lime-like aroma. Then comes the more herbaceous products such as poleo, often also used to make a tea to cure stomach ailments. The sweet mezcals, referred to as cremas are made with a range of exotic fruits, but almost always contain a sweetening agent, most often honey, sugar or cane alcohol. The percentage mezcal used in such production is frequently quite small, and in fact there is currently controversy in the industry regarding whether or not the word mezcal ought to be used in labeling the beverage. Some cremas are made with cream or milk, while others are not, but can nevertheless be mixed with either, perhaps on the rocks, or in making desserts, for example poured over vanilla ice cream. Those who reside in Oaxaca have the opportunity to purchase bulk blanco mezcal and experiment with their own private recipes such as peach-honey, raisin-apple, guava, rosemary, and innumerable others.
Regardless of any preconceived notions you might have about mezcal, have a taste, whenever the opportunity arises, and of whatever is being offered, if only enough to discern differences and develop a palate for one or more types you prefer from the broad array of flavors, agings and degrees of smokiness.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The History of the Jelly Belly Candy Company
The Jelly Belly Candy Company produces some of the most flavorful jelly beans with flavors ranging from buttered popcorn to cherry and everything in between. It's a company that was started in America in 1869, just two years after brothers Gustav and Albert Goelitz emigrated from the Harz Mountain region of Germany.
Reuniting with an uncle who had migrated five years prior, Gustav, age 24, set up an ice cream and candy store in Belleville, Illinois and Albert, age 21, took to a horse drawn wagon to sell their confections to surrounding communities.
The Goelitz brothers by no means invented jelly beans. These tiny jelly candies have been around since Biblical Times, known as "Turkish Delight", which originated in Instanbul, Turkey. The original jelly bean was a citrus, rose water and honey gel that had a firm outer coating and chewy center.
In the late 1800s Americans became infatuated with penny candy as candy makers began creating sugar candies. Inspired by Jordan Almonds, which was then known as "Confetti", "Turkish Delight" was recreated and shaped into a bean and coated with a soft shell using a process called "panning". This process originates back the 17th century France. Raw nuts or fruit were placed in a bowl filled with sugar and syrup, then by hand, the bowl was rocked back and forth until the nuts or fruit were coated with the syrup and sugar. Whose idea it was to modify and coat the "Turkish Delight" is unknown, though early advertising records attribute William Schraft, as he promoted sending the jelly beans to Civil War Union Soldiers.
Then one of America's worst economic depressions hit in 1893. Paper money was double the value of the gold backing it. The financial strain hit the Goelitz Brothers and they were forced to assign assets to creditors and sell the business. Albert continued selling candy for another company until his death at the age of 80. Gustav, however, never recovered, dying in 1901, just one week shy of his 56th birthday.
In 1898, the next generation of Goelitz, Gustav's son, Adolph with the help of his friend and neighbor, William Kelley, opened a candy shop in Cincinnati, Ohio. Edward Kelley, William's cousin, was hired in 1901 as the company's bookkeeper. Through his employement he met and fell in love with Goelitz's sister, Joanna. The two were married, formally joining the Goelitz and Kelley's into a family partnership.
The 1900s had America in love with chocolate. Then World War II entered and as chocolate was sent to overseas troops, creating a chocolate shortage, Americans migrated back to penny candies and jelly beans. It was one, if not the first, of confectionary items to be sold by weight as "bulk candy".
The country's candy manufacturer's employed an estimated 27,000 workers and the Goelitz Confectionery Company prospered. The arrival of 1912 had the company turning away orders due to the lack of production capacity.
Goelitz and Kelley found a factory along the north shores of Lake Michigan. Its location offered rail service and the land was affordable. They purchased the factory and moved the company to North Chicago. Income tax was introduced in 1913 and closed the doors of many mom-and-pop candy makers. Goelitz Confectionery Company was well established and survived, making primarily butter creams, which would later be known as mellocremes. Licorice, chocolate and peppermints were also manufactured, however, the mellocremes kept the company growing for the next five decades.
The best seller for the Goelitz Confectionery Company was candy corns. Origin shows the candy corn being invented during the 1880s, thought Goelitz Confectionery Company's don't show production of candy corn until 1900. Regardless of when they began manufacturing candy corns, the company created a reputation for the finest candy corn on the market.
Candy making was seasonal work, mainly March through Thanksgiving, employing 30 workers for the autumn candy production. Without air conditioning, the factory was hot as more than 50 batches of candy were created each day.
Employees worked six, ten hour days at a wage of .22 per week in 1900. The weekly salary rose to .18 per week by 1917.
Men, employed as "stringers", would walk backwards pouring "runners", hand-held buckets, each weighing 45 pounds, into trays of cornstarch imprinted with kernel-shaped molds. The candy corn production required three passes: one for orange, white and yellow colors.
Wooden buckets, tubs and cartons were used to pack customer orders. Using paste the workers made themselves, labels were placed on the packages and delivered by wagon to customers in the area. Railroad cars handled orders for customers of longer distances. Very long distances were not an option due to the products perishability.
The beginning of World War I found turmoil within the company. Gus Jr. left the business permanently and Herman migrated west to California and opened his own company, The Herman Goelitz Candy Co. Herman's company manufactured what Herman knew best, Candy Corn. He was too far from his family's business to be of competition.
Following the Great Depression, the third generation of the California and Illinois candy making companies saw other manufacturers creating candy corns and undercutting prices. It was hurting both businesses. William Kelley, based in Illinois and Herman Rowland, descendent of Gustav Goelitz, recognized that expansion was necessary if they were to survive. They needed to diversify the product or close their doors. The company, lead by 19 year old Herman Rowland, expanded adding Chocolate Dutch Mints, gummi bears, jelly beans and jells to production.
The Governor of California, Ronald Reagan, wrote his famous letter stating, "We can hardly start a meeting or make a decision without passing around the jar of jelly beans" in 1967.
Sugar prices soared in 1975 and candy business went out of business as buyers held back orders hoping to wait out the crisis. The Chicago plant was closed for a couple of months to buy time, while Herman, in California, borrowed heavily to buy sugar to continue production.
A driver for a candy distributor, David Klein, approached Herman Rowland and shared his childhood dream, to create "the Rolls Royce of jelly beans". The Goelitz candy makers, who had built a reputation for quality, crafted eight flavors of small, intensely flavored jelly beans in the summer of 1976. The company created a process that cooked the flavors into not only the shells, but the center of the jelly beans and used natural ingredients wherever possible. They spared no cost in using only the very best ingredients.
The Goeltiz's chose unusual flavors, never before made into jelly beans: Very Cherry, Lemon, Cream Soda, Tangerine, Green Apple, Root Beer, Grape and Licorice. They called these jelly beans, Jelly Bellys, a derivation from a rhyme with the 1920s blues singer, Leadbelly. The new flavors were sold individually, revolutionizing the mixed bags of jelly beans.
The Jelly Bellys were a sensation and Herman found himself in need of additional production to meet the demand. He called William Kelley in Illinois and the candy making family was reunited into a single company for the first time in 58 years.
During the 1980 Presidential Election, Jelly Belly entered the homes of America. Former Governor, Ronald Reagon, won the election and brought Jelly Belly into the White House. Reagan's passion for jelly beans introduced Blueberry Jelly Bellys, so he could serve red, white and blue jelly beans at inaugural parties. Production increased to round the clock and orders from current retailers were booked two years in advance of being able to ship.
Three tons of Jelly Bellys were served at the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan. More than 10,000 Jelly Bellys were used to create a portrait of Ronald Reagan.
Jelly Belly was the first jelly bean in outer space. In 1983 as a presidential surprise fot eh astronauts, Jelly Bellys were sent on the space shuttle Challenger. It was also the flight of the first American female astronaut, Sally Ride.
Each Jelly Belly has just one calorie! This makes it a choice snack among dieters as the Jelly Bellys taste so much like the foods they are supposed to be that it feels like an indulgence eating caramel apple or buttered popcorn!
Today, the Jelly Belly Candy Company is the world's choice for gourmet jelly beans. They have fifty official flavors and countless other flavors from special to collections to wacky. Jelly Belly offers Movie Flavors which are popular. The Ant Bully offers the flavor, dirt. The best selling movie flavors, however, come from Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, featuring flavors like Ear Wax, Rotten Egg and Vomit.
Consumers love mixing different flavors of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans to create a new flavor. It's so much fun that the company has a link of recipes on its website and recipes can be found on each package of Jelly Bellys. The company still manufacturers candy corn, and more than 100 other candies, including gummis, sour candies and chocolates.
Promotional Salt Water Swimming Pool Chlorinator Simmons Slumbertime Crib Discount
Friday, December 2, 2011
Candy Corn - It's Not Just For Halloween Anymore
Like all things, over the years candy corn has changed. It has morphed from an orange, yellow and white Halloween candy into a gourmet candy product suitable for candy buffets, gift baskets, cupcake decorating and, of course enjoying.
Candy Corn - The Early Years
Candy corn was first created in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Wunderlee Candy Company. The main ingredient was orange and yellow colored honey. The idea came from the bright colors of traditional North American corn. Each piece was about the size of a whole kernel from a ripe or dried ear of corn. Since Halloween coincides with harvest time, they quickly became a popular treat to share on that particular holiday. The tricolor design of the candy was considered revolutionary for its time and people flocked to buy it.
At first, candy corn was only produced for 6 months out of the year (from March to November). It was packed into wooden buckets, tubs, or cartons and loaded onto wagons or trains to be sold in nearby towns. Commercial production didn't really begin until 1898 by Gustav Goelitz. He made it with a broad yellow bottom, a tapered orange center, and a pointed white top. Its unique shape gained popularity quickly in both the cities and in the rural populations of the early 1900s.
As time went by, other color variations were made also. A popular variation called "Indian corn" featured a chocolate brown bottom, orange center and pointed white top. More color variations were made to represent other major holidays, including Christmas (in red, white and green) and Easter (in various pastel colors).
People still love candy corn. It grew from a novelty sweet that was mostly produced for Halloween into a major candy item that is produced year-round. In fact, approximately 35 million pounds of it is produced every year!
It was only natural that smart manufacturers wanted to create new and improved version, so they began to experiment with the original recipe, creating new flavors and colors.
Candy Corn Now - The new explosion of Color and Taste
One if the biggest innovations in this candy's history has come in the form of gourmet candy corn. With exciting new colors and gourmet flavors, these little guys really take it to the next level
Here are some of the cool new flavors and colors available:
Apple Cider (tan and red) Blackberry Cobbler (purple with brownish bottom) Candy Cane Corn (red and white) Caramel (marigold and brown) Caramel Apple (red and light brown) Cherry (yellow tip, red and pink) Cinnamon (white with light red tip) Creme Brulee (soft yellow with light brown bottom) Dulce de leche (brown with marigold bottom) Pumpkin Spice (bright yellow with dark brown bottom) Raspberry (red with purple bottom) Raspberry Lemonade - USA colors! (red tip, white middle and blue bottom) - these taste just like Bomb Pop Ices! Tangerine (purple tip, yellow middle, orange bottom)
So next time you're looking for a unique candy treat that will make people do a double take, go pick up up some gourmet candy corn.
Monday, November 28, 2011
101 Frugal Christmas Tips
We have had many times throughout the years that we had to be very tight around Christmas. I have a ton of tips and ideas to help you have an affordable Christmas as well as find fun and...CHEAP things to do with your family!
101 Affordable Christmas Gifts, Activities and Tips
1. Bake. This is a great way to get the kids involved as well. Bake some cookies, cupcakes or make a yummy candy. Buy some inexpensive colored cellophane and tie it up pretty-or use paper lunch bags, wrapping paper, colorful tins, or whatever is inexpensive and available to you. You can find TONS of wrapping options at the dollar store.
2. Insist in a Price Limit. Some of us have family/friend gift swaps. Set a low price limit that is AFFORDABLE to your family. It really is NOT...or should not be about the price anyway.
3. Feed the Hungry. Buy some groceries and donate them to a local food bank. You can also serve food at a local soup kitchen. Doing this as a family will teach your children the importance of caring for the poor. Habits started in childhood stay with us for a lifetime!
4. Use your talents. It's FREE! If you are great at organizing, give the gift of a few hours to a friend to help them get organized in an area of their home. If you knit, make something special for someone on your list. If you are great with taxes, offer to do them for a friend or loved one. Skies the limit with this one, ladies.
5. Dollar Tree Christmas. I know this sounds crazy, however, things were so incredibly tight for us one year, that we literally ONLY had dollars to spend on Christmas. Period. So, each of us got to spend at the dollar store on each other. It was the BEST Christmas we have had to date. The torch lighter my husband got me that year is my favorite all time gift and it works FAR better than the more pricy one we received years later!
6. Homemade Gifts. Grandma and Grandpa are sure to love a hand made gift over a store bought one from their little love bugs. It is also a great idea for us Moms too!
7. Volunteer. Visit an elderly home and read books to them. Volunteer where you are needed. There are MANY opportunities in every community! Again, get the family involved!
8. Make your Own Decorations. Threading old beads, popcorn and/or macaroni through yarn can be made into a fabulous garland. One year, my daughter cut out two large strips of an old disposable table cloth I got from the dollar store. She made a pretty bow for each of my lamps. The color worked perfectly and it added a nice touch. You can also make a wreath with pine cones and extra greenery type garland. Get your creative juices flowing and you are sure to come up with some great ideas!
9. Start a Tradition. Each year, have a cookie decorating, gift wrapping or some other contest. Make sure you have some sort of "bragging rights" statue for the winner to keep for the year. There are a few other ideas in this list as well...
10. Sing-a-Long. This is something fun we do at my care group each year. If you have a large family, this can be quite a hoot. Using the 12 days of Christmas song, each group or couple...depending on size of your family gets one part (or two if small family) to sing. It really is hilarious the way each group sings and how it all comes together. We have some real hams in our group that make this a hilarious activity.
11. Wrap Cheap. Make your own paper mâché type wrap. Let the kids color decorative pictures on construction paper and use it to wrap. Reuse last year's gift bags you received. You can even use old grocery store paper bags or those cute reusable bags they make nowadays. Be creative with what you have...the wrapping goes in the trash anyway!
12. After Christmas Sales. This is a GREAT time to buy decorations, gifts and stuff for next year's holiday season. You have to plan it though, so you actually have a few bucks to invest. It is worth it in the long run with the money you will save!
13. Sell your Stuff. This is a great way to earn some extra money for the holidays. Have a garage sale, sell on ebay, put an ad in the paper for big items. Take stock and see what you have that can bring in a few extra bucks!
14. Go Caroling. Some neighborhoods do this as a group. Otherwise, start your own caroling gig. Get friends, family and neighbors involved and have fun blessing someone else!
15. Have a Pot Luck. Instead of doing it all yourself and spending far too much time and money, let everyone get involved. It's a great way to try other dishes, bond, and get the family working together to save money!
16. Go Looking at Christmas Lights. Every year, we put some hot cocoa in travel mugs, get a cozy blanket and all snuggle up in the car while looking at Christmas lights around town. We are quite the critiques you know-Look out! LOL!
17. Attend Church on Christmas Eve. Many churches have a Christmas Eve service. This is yet again another free activity to do with your family!
18. Acts of Random Kindness. Pay for the person's toll, fast food meal, etc. behind you. Help someone put their groceries in the car. Offer to go grocery shopping for an elderly person. Get creative with kindness and it is sure to spread around and come back around your way! It's the Biblical law of sowing and reaping!
19. Make Candy Apples! Yummy! Caramel, candy, nuts, etc. Give some away to friends and family-or keep them all to yourself! LOL!
20. Read the Christmas Story. If you can get dad to do this, that's awesome. Make it a big production. Hot cocoa, tree lights on, etc. Then have "father" read the story of Christmas.
21. Scrapbook Fun. Take last year's pictures and create a scrapbook as a family. Each person gets their own stack of pictures and pages they can make.
22. Shop Online Outlets. Amazon has tons of gifts in many different price ranges!
23. Garage Sales. You would be surprised the re-giftable treasures you can find at a good garage sale!
24. Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These are both GREAT money saving days to shop. Companies are competing for YOUR business!
25. iTunes. Purchase a - iTunes gift card for the music lover in your life.
26. Calendar. Have a friend that loves kittens? Get her a calendar with cute kittens for each month. This works for ANY person...golfer, fisher, precious moments, cows, etc. You know what your family and friends like. This is a cheap...yet personal gift!
27. Make a Coupon Book. This is always fun. Create a special book of things you will do for someone on your list. What you put in the book really depends on who the gift is for. However, here are a few ideas: back massage (hubbie would love this), clean house, hug, lunch, spa day, an hour of your time, etc...
28. Nativity Fun! You can make one as a family using stuff you have in your house. You can have each member make their own and make it a special "bragging rights" contest of who made the best each year. You can even act out the story as a family-or get the kids to put on a show for you. So many options.
29. Advent. You can find books and info Online to help you do your own Advent celebration activities.
30. Have a costume contest. The rules: Must have something to do with Christmas and can ONLY use stuff you have in your house. Then, vote for who has the best. Oh, and each family member must vote for ONE other member -NOT themselves!
31. Something Old. Re-gift something you received that you have not opened and most likely will not use in the next 100 years. NO there is NOTHING wrong with re-gifting! Especially if money is tight. Just don't re-gift to the one who got you the gift! Um...Awkward! LOL!
32. Gift Card Deals. A lot of companies offer gift card deals. You just have to take the time to find them. For example: you can get a gift card for . Look Online...you may find yourself a great deal!
33. Cards. Create homemade cards and write a special message to the person receiving it. Make it personal and it is sure to be a favorite!
34. White Elephant. This is always fun. Have a party. Make sure everyone brings a dish to share. Don't break the bank decorating either. Then, have each person bring a gift valued between - depending on what you think everyone's budget will be. I have been to parties with limits and limits. I had a BLAST at all of them! Make the limit what YOU can afford! Look up "White Elephant" party on Google for rule variations.
35. Donate. Have the family go through their rooms and closets looking for things to donate to those less fortunate. It will make space for new gifts as well as bless another human being!
36. Nuts. They sell these in bulk, bags and in cans. You can create your own pretty jar, bag, etc. Nuts are a yummy, inexpensive and nice gift to give.
37. Recipe in a Bag. Do you have a cookie, cake, sauce, pasta or bread recipe that people love? Put all the dry ingredients in a pretty bag/jar with a recipe card of what else they need and how to make it!
38. Clay. Use clay to create a nativity scene, ornaments, etc. Kids love to play with clay and play-dough. Let them get creative with the Christmas theme. You can also find instructions Online as to how to make your clay creations last for years and years.
39. Family Pics. Grandparents love pictures as gifts. If you can get your pictures made, do that and put it in a pretty frame. Otherwise, take them yourself, develop and put it in a pretty frame. Either way, the grandparents are sure to love them!
40. Snowflakes. Making snowflakes was always fun as a child. All it takes is scissors, white paper, crayons/markers, glue and glitter!
41. Journal. I love journals. This is a frugal gift idea for the writer in your life. You can find them anywhere for -. Be sure and write a heartfelt note to add a special touch to it!
42. Twelve Days of Christmas Fun! Each day do something fun that relates to that verse of the song. I included a few ideas, but please do not limit yourself to them...you may think of something better!
A Partridge in a Pear: make a pear tart, roast pears or make a pear jam.
2 Turtle Doves: make candy turtles, draw turtles, do some sort of turtle craft, or go to the pet store and look at turtles. (Yes, I know turtle doves are birds, but there are other birds in the song! LOL)
3 French Hens: make your family's favorite chicken recipe. Learn a French recipe that uses chicken or poultry and make it as a family!
4 Calling Birds: go on a nature walk and see if you can find 4 different types of birds-or 4 different birds calling! Do a bird craft.
5 Golden Rings: make homemade napkin rings. I am sure you can find a ton of ideas if you just Google "napkin ring craft".
6 Geese a Laying: make fabergé eggs. Simply poke a small hole in the top and bottom of a large egg. Make sure you allow all of the egg to empty out, rinse and dry. Then decorate with paint, jewels, etc.
7 Swans a Swimming: give the kids a bubble bath, make homemade bubbles and have fun blowing bubbles with them, or go to the park and feed the ducks!
8 Maids a Milking: make chocolate or colored milk, go milk a cow if you have a local farm, read a book about where milk comes from, or just eat milk duds!
9 Ladies Dancing: dance around the house and get silly with your kids to Christmas music, do a dance slipper craft, watch a dance.
10 Lords Leaping: Put on praise music and LEAP in the joy of the Lord. Play leap frog, go look for frogs, draw frogs, read about frogs, etc. Forget frogs and think of another idea! LOL!
11 Pipers Piping: make homemade wind instruments. Google; pipe craft, trumpet craft, etc. Watch a band or listen to wind instruments.
12 Drummers Drumming: make a homemade drum, play the drums, use different items to hear the different "drum" noises, listen to the little drummer boy song, watch the little drummer boy...
43. Beauty Bag. This can be all done at a dollar store, or the dollar sections at Walmart/Target. Get a cute inexpensive cosmetic bag and add some nail polish, samples, eyeshadow and other inexpensive beauty items. Fabulous idea for the teenage girl in your life!
44. Share a Recipe. Do you have a friend that has been begging you for a certain recipe? Why not give it to her!? What's the big secret?? Who will have it when you are dead? Spread the love. Write it out on a pretty decorative recipe card and show her how much you love her. Better yet, make it an invite instead...have her over and SHOW her how to make the recipe!
45. Candy Jar. This is a nice gift for the chocolate lover in your life. You can find an inexpensive and pretty jar just about anywhere. Fill it with Hershey kisses, tootsie rolls or some other favorite sweet treat.
46. Year Round. Instead of waiting for last minute shopping. Try starting right after Christmas and keeping an eye out for sales all year long. IN the long run, you will save money and time by carefully doing a little at a time.
47. Scavenger Hunt. This can be a fun family tradition. Create an age appropriate scavenger hunt for the kids/family. Make it fun and have some sweet treats along the way. In the end whoever wins gets to open one present. Make sure you have some small things for the runner ups so there are no hard feelings!
48. Local Tree Lighting Ceremony. A lot of towns have a tree lighting ceremony down town. It is a free activity to do as a family.
49. Make ornaments. Have your kids make special homemade ornaments to give to the Grandparents. Not only is it a fun activity for them, it is a special gift that any grandparent will treasure for life!
50. Green Thumb. This is for the gardener in your life...give a plant, flower, tree, pot with seeds, or even gardening tools. You can take it one step further and decorate a pretty pot for them. Then, plant something pretty in it that they can nurture and grow!
51. Games. Board games are cheap gifts and also a great family activity!
52. Fire Pit. If you have a large back yard, why not make a fire pit and have a bonfire on a cold night close to Christmas. Make some s'mores and tell your kids the story of Jesus and why God sent Him. If you do not have a place for a fire pit, just use a grill and pull out some chairs around it! No room for any of this?? Microwave the s'mores, light some candles and have a living room "bonfire".
53. Family Field Day. Do you remember "field day" at school? Create your own family style one. Have sack (pillow cases) races, don't drop the egg, wheel barrel, etc. Seriously, this can be a blast and a new family tradition. If you have a small immediate family, branch out and invite aunts uncles, etc.
54. Books. I love books and so do many of my friends. Most books are affordable-especially if you shop Amazon or an online book store. Even ebooks make GREAT gifts these days! Many are under & ! If your friend is married, why not get her the Proverb's 31 Wife handbook?
55. Make a Gingerbread House. You can either buy a kit, look through some cookbooks, or Google; 'how to make an easy gingerbread house' or 'kid friendly gingerbread house'... or something in that range. Better yet-wing it. That's always the funnest way to do stuff like that.
56. As Seen On TV. My husband LOVES these items! LOL! They actually have an "As Seen On TV" store in a local mall in our town. You can also find many at Target. They are cheap and cool gifts!
57. Library. Check out your local library for story time and other free events they have going on during the holiday season.
58. Gas Card. We all know gas prices are not going to be dropping any time soon-if ever! A gas card can be an AWESOME gift to give!
59. I Love You Because...Fill a jar, gift bag or decorative box with a bunch of notes telling all the reasons you love or appreciate the receiver.
60. Flash Drive. They sell these for less then 10 bucks. Many have cool designs on them as well. This would be a wonderful gift for the techie in your life.
61. Mallow Men. Love this idea from my daughter! Make snow men with marshmallows! GREAT and tasty activity to do! All you need is large jet puffed marshmallows, white frosting (to keep the marshmallow stacks together), pretzel sticks, and a variety small candies to use. Each person creates their own special mallow men!
62. Homemade Flavored Oil. Purchase a tall pretty jar. You can find cheap jars in almost any store. Fill it with olive oil and other tasty flavorings. A few ideas: fresh herbs like rosemary, garlic, peppers, etc. Make it a couple weeks ahead of time so flavors are melded well. Make sure jar is sealed tight as well.
63. Let it Snow...I live in the sunshine State. However, if you have snow in your neck of the woods...enjoy it! Go sledding, make snow angels, build a snow man-have fun!
64. Freebies. Use your free offers as gifts. Let's say you buy a body lotion and you get one free. Give the free one to someone else. Two gifts in one. You can do this with all 'free with purchase' offers. It is a great way to stock up as well. Save all your freebies throughout the year, and you will have a stash of "go to" presents to help keep you on budget!
65. Acronym. Create an acronym for a special person. My daughter loves to do this and I have done it for a few friends. It is a special gift that takes time and effort. However, it is worth it! You will take each letter of their first name and come up with a nice word that describes them. Make it pretty!
66. Candles. Who doesn't love candles??
67. Target Sales. I love Target. I find so many fabulous deals by walking the back wall. They put all of their clearance items (some marked down 75%) on the inside end of almost every isle.
68. Track Santa. We do not celebrate with Santa at all, but a lot of people do, so, if you celebrate Christmas with Santa, there is a cool site that "tracks" where he is on Christmas Eve. It is very cute. (noradsanta.org)
69. Christmas Around the World. Our homeschool group used to do this each year. If you can get a few families together that would be even better. Each family picks a country they will represent. Then you all get together and share several things from your country choice. For example: you will share a little about how they celebrate Christmas, one traditional treat (make sure you give the kids the recipe for it too) and a craft. If you can get at least 3 families together that will make an afternoon of fun for you and the kids. Each kid will come home with a recipe from each country, a craft and fact sheet from each country represented as well.
70. Indoor Camping. If you have a tent, pull it out and set up your "camp site" close (not too close) to your Christmas tree, and create a Christmas camping experience. If you do this the week before Christmas, you may even let the kids open one gift as a special treat. This can become an awesome family tradition that your kids will love and treasure the memories for a lifetime! No tent? No problem! Make a fort with blankets or just throw some blankets on the floor!
71. Family Twister. Without breaking a hip, pull out the old twister game and have a blast with your kids. Make it a competition. Whoever wins gets to open up one present!
72. Fruit Basket. A healthy gift indeed! Make it pretty!
73. Fuzzy Socks. We love fuzzy socks. You can find them at Target, Walmart, pretty much anywhere! They are fuzzy and have cool designs. Very fun and frugal gift!
74. Letters from Home. Have your kids write letters to the troops overseas. It will not only make those in the military smile, it will teach your children patriotism and to appreciate the sacrifice they make for our country!
75. Sponsor a Child. Have you ever seen those trees in stores with names on them? Those are kids that need gifts! I was one of them and someone sponsored me and made my Christmas one year! I was living in a children's home and no one came to visit me on Christmas. I was so thankful...and still am for the person who took the time to get me the few things on my list!
76. Magazine subscription. Buy a one year subscription for a friend/family member's favorite magazine, or hobby magazine you think they would enjoy!
77. Short List. Honestly, it is not frugal to buy for everyone. Shorten your list. Do not break the bank to get everyone a gift! Live and buy within your means. Going broke to give others gifts is not what Christmas is about and they would not want you to do that if they love you anyway!
78. For the Birds. This is a fun activity to do with your kids. Make a homemade bird feeder! Plastic soda bottle, peanut butter and seeds are the basics. Google the rest. Then place your feeder in an area you can view from inside. Hopefully you will soon have some fine feathered friends come to visit!
79. Dollar Bowling. Many bowling alley's have a dollar bowling night. It is a cheap way to get out of the house and have fun with the family. However, a nice Wii bowling night will work too! Those are my favorite nights at home!
80. Popcorn Fun. There are so many things you can do with popcorn. Why not make some flavored popcorn balls? Or use them to create cool Christmas characters (you will need a few other items for this...be creative)? Popcorn is cheap and you can enjoy creating and eating all in one!
81. Candy Cane Craft. We made a reindeer one year, using pipe cleaner for antlers and googly eyes for the eyes. It is amazing what googly eyes, pipe cleaner, glitter and glue can do! Come up with your own creative creatures. have a candy cane craft contest. Skies the limit, here too, ladies. It would also be a great time to share the story of the candy cane...
82. Make a Meal. Give a loved one the night off! This is a fabulous way to share a bit of you with someone...Make them one of your signature recipes and take it over for them to enjoy with their family. You can make it so they can freeze it, or plan ahead so they know to be ready for it.
83. Get Crafty. The best thing about the Internet is that everything is as close as a few key words typed into the search bar. You can find tons of things to do. However, my favorite kid friendly craft site is Kaboose.com They have TONS of ideas to help keep the kids busy and creative!
84. Starbucks. Even a gift card will make someone on your list smile. I know I would love you forever! LOL! Five bucks is good for one fabulous cup of yumminess!
85. Decorate Cookies. Easy, fun and oh so yummy!
86. Visit the Local Zoo. Many zoos are not too expensive for locals. However, if money is too tight for even this idea, visit your local pet store and let the kids cuddle a kitty or puppy. We have one that has fish, kittens, puppies, reptiles, bunnies, and many other animals.
87. NO Credit. Never ever ever buy on credit! You will be paying more for the gifts! Only buy with cash or a debit card. You will save the interest and have more to spend later!
88. Spa at Home. Great for Moms, teenage daughters or both! Find some homemade recipes online. Send out a special invitation to a few of your girlfriends and have a spa at home day. You will each bring ONE inexpensive spa item to contribute and one to give away. Everyone should also bring their own beauty stuff to use. So, you will have your stuff, stuff to share and so on. Put each of the items brought to "give away" in a big "grab bag" and at the end of the party draw straws for order, and let each woman pick a gift from the bag!
89. Collage. This is a great idea for a close friend, relative, Mom or daughter. Create a collage using pictures, memories and things they love. It is sure to bring some loving tears to the receivers eyes.
90. Gift Basket. This can go in just about any direction...crafty, cookies, fruit, sweets, hobby related, spa, movie night, fun, etc.
91. Coffee Mug. Do you have a coffee or mug lover on your list? Buy a nice mug and a bag of their favorite coffee. This is also a great tip for a tea lover or hot cocoa fan!
92. Eat Free Days. Treat the family to a night out to dinner. Just make sure to do it on a "kids eat free" night!
93. Bath and Body Works. They have HUGE sales. You can get 5 lotions or fancy sanitizers for many times throughout the year. That's FIVE gifts! Wrap it up pretty with a personal card and it is a sure winner!
94. Pet lovers. You can get treats, new leash, pet bed, grooming, etc.
95. It's OK to be Practical. Not all gifts need to be knock your socks off original. Try buying a hair cut, socks, mani/pedi, stamps, computer paper, ink, groceries, etc. Be creative in your practicality! LOL!
96. Herb Garden. This is a winner for the cook in your life. Herb gardens are cheap and they do not take up a lot of space.
97. Deck of Cards. If there is a card lover in your life, buy them a deck of cards. Then, Google card games and rules. Print out the rules and give them with the cards. Or, if you have a few extra bucks, buy a card game rule book to go with the cards.
98. The Entertainment® Coupon Book. This is an GREAT gift to give someone. You can get it from your kids school many times or just go to entertainment.com.
99. Christmas Time Capsule. This can be a yearly tradition. Purchase a large Christmas themed box (like the kind you would put a gift in with no wrapping), and every year have each family member put one item in it that represents their year. Then the next year, open it up and enjoy the memory making moments and conversations. Then, repeat it every year! It is an AWESOME way to encourage communication and promote memorable conversation. Keep adding to it year after year to see how life changes. Make sure that you date the items and add a pic of each family member too, or at least a family photo from that year so that you can see the changes over the years. When the kids grow up, Mom will have a box of wonderful memories! (Thanks to my beautiful daughter for this idea!)
100. Date Night. Make a decorative "certificate" that states the bearer will receive free child watching services. Basically, you will watch a friend or family member's kids so they can have a night off!
101. Take a Year Off! Try a NO Receiving ONLY Giving Year. This can be a real character building opportunity for the whole family and a great way to teach giving is better than receiving. It is important to teach our children-and ourselves to be generous.
I hope these ideas inspire you to spend time with your family, build memories, get creative with gift giving and most of all SAVE money!
Buying Waverly Discount Fabrics Where To Buy Ear Muffs Peltor
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Cheesecake - A Delightful Refreshment Choice For Baby Showers
My niece is expecting a baby. Our family is extremely excited. This is the first baby to be added to our family in a long time. You can guess my delight when she asked if I would host her baby shower. I quickly and enthusiastically began the preparations for this event: guest list, invitations, decorations, appropriate party games. However, when I thought about what refreshments to serve, I was stumped. Tired of the ordinary (and boring) cake and ice cream, I decided to serve something quite different...cheesecake.
We love cheesecake. Its smooth flavor is satisfying for our sweet cravings as well as filling our desire for desert. It is a rich, creamy combination of teasingly refreshing goodness, and it is tastefully distinct. I am sure cheesecake will make a delightful refreshment choice for our niece and her baby shower guests.
Cheesecake is very, very easy to serve. Simply slice into any shape and portion size and scoop onto the plate. It can be eaten with either a fork or spoon. My favorite utensil to use when eating cheesecake is a "spork"...you know...the spoon/fork combination. It is not messy, nor does it have many crumbs, so clean-up is a breeze. Cheesecake can be kept frozen until the time it is desired or it can be stored in the refrigerator for several days ahead of time; thus eliminating last-minute preparations.
Cheesecake, itself, comes in a variety of flavors. Chocolate cheesecake is a deliciously rich treat that fulfills both sweet and chocolate cravings. Key lime cheesecake gives a tart, tropical flair and is very enjoyable, as well. My favorite, though, is turtle cheesecake. The luscious combination of caramel and chocolate topped with nuts is a divine cheesecake taste sensation. It is memorable as well as satisfying.
Cheesecake is certainly the best choice to serve at our baby shower. Our guests, as well as the proud mother-to-be, will be delighted by this refreshment choice. I'm sure it will meet all of their expectations and their taste needs. Cheesecake...a delightful refreshment choice for all baby showers and, actually, any occasion.
Discounted Boar Shaving Brush Promotion Salt Water Pool Chlorine Circulating Pump Hot Water Save
Crockpot Cakes - 2 Delicious Recipes
The following recipes are really easy to make and if you are wondering what you can make in the slow cooker apart from stews and soups, why not make a crockpot cake? Whether you prefer chocolate or fruit cakes, these recipes are simple to follow and the results will be great.
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pudding Cake
This rich and gooey crockpot cake is guaranteed to thrill the family. The chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and chocolate milk give it plenty of richness and the peanuts, vanilla and peanut butter pieces are really nice too. The cake sets on the bottom and a sauce forms on top. This is a great dessert to serve with ice cream.
What you will need:
2 tablespoons cooking oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup all purpose flour 1/3 cup plus 3/4 cup sugar 1 1/2 cups boiling water 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup chopped peanuts 4 tablespoons cocoa powder Nonstick cooking spray 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 cup milk or chocolate milk 1/2 cup peanut butter-flavored pieces
How to make it:
Coat a four quart crockpot with cooking spray. Stir the flour with a third of a cup of the sugar, the baking powder, and half the cocoa powder. Add the oil, vanilla extract and milk or chocolate milk and stir. Stir in the chocolate, peanut butter pieces, and nuts, and then spread the batter over the bottom of the crockpot.
Combine the remaining sugar with the remaining cocoa powder, and then stir in the boiling water gradually. Pour this mixture over the batter in the slow cooker. Cover and cook for two or two and a half hours on high or until a wooden toothpick inserted an inch deep into the middle of the dessert comes out clean.
Turn off the crockpot or remove the liner from the machine. Let it stand for forty minutes, uncovered, then spoon the warm cake into dessert dishes. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Caramel Orange Pudding Cake
The combination of oranges, pecans, raisins, cinnamon and more is guaranteed to result in an amazing flavored dessert. This is a very easy recipe and you will end up with both a cake and a sauce.
What you will need:
1/3 cup white sugar 1 cup all purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 cup water 1/4 cup raisins 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup milk 2 tablespoons melted butter 3/4 cup orange juice 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded orange zest 2/3 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon butter 2 cups light cream
How to make it:
Stir the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder together, then add the melted butter and milk and stir again. Add the raisins and pecans and spread this batter over the bottom of a four quart crockpot.
Combine the water, orange juice, brown sugar, orange zest, and butter in a pan and bring the mixture to a boil. Let it boil for a couple of minutes, then pour this mixture over the batter in the slow cooker.
Cover the crockpot and cook for two and a half hours on high. Take the liner out of the slow cooker or turn the machine off and let the dessert stand for half an hour. Spoon the warm cake into dessert dishes and serve with light cream.
Buying Kitchenaid Professional Hd Mixer Shop For Medela Electric Breast Pumps
Friday, November 25, 2011
Candy and Caramel Apples a Traditional Halloween Treat
Jack-o'-lanterns, spooky decorative displays, and scary costumes have long been part of the Halloween tradition, as have the candy and treats associated with this "haunted" holiday. Because of the fall apple harvest coinciding with these frightful festivities every year, caramel apples and candy apples have been part of Halloween since it began to weave itself into America's fabric in the 1930's.
These days, the first priority of children as they scour the neighborhoods trick-or-treating is to acquire as much store-bought candy as possible; candy bars, lollipops, and basically anything sweet and nicely-packaged. But even though they're not distributed into many goodie bags these days, candy and caramel apples are still a very popular and traditional treat for kids and parents alike!
It's a natural combination: the apple, sweetened by nature and covered in candy or caramel coating. Every bite is a crispy flavor explosion! If you decide to take the time and put forth the effort to make enough caramel and/or candy apples to accommodate the neighborhood, go for it! But if you just want them around for the kids, friends, and family, that would probably be just fine by them.
Ok, so now you're wondering, "How exactly did I make those caramel apples last time? Do I have a recipe around here somewhere?" Look no further. Here's a quick and easy caramel apple recipe, with a candy apple recipe thrown in for good measure:
Caramel Apples (homemade)
1 cup butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
8-10 wooden sticks
8-10 medium tart apples
Have the apples ready by washing and drying them and by removing the stems. Insert a wooden stick (popsicle sticks work) into the end of each apple.
Combine butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and milk in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 30 to 40 minutes, or until syrup reaches 250 degrees on a candy thermometer.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Dip each apple into the caramel mixture, swirling to coat. Set apples on wax paper to cool completely before serving.
Quick Microwave Caramel Apples
6 apples
6 wooden sticks
1 (14 oz) package of wrapped caramels
2 tablespoons milk
Wash and dry apples and remove stems. Insert a wooden stick into the end of each apple. Place unwrapped caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for two minutes, stirring once. Swirl each apple in caramel mixture, then place on a well greased cookie sheet or wax paper to cool before serving.
Old-Fashioned Red Candy Apples
8 medium sized apples
8 wooden sticks
3 cups white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1/4 teaspoon red food coloring (optional)
Have washed and dried apples ready, with stems removed and a stick inserted into the end of each apple.
Heat and stir sugar, corn syrup and water in a saucepan until sugar has dissolved. Boil until the syrup reaches 300 degrees on a candy thermometer, or until a little syrup dropped into cold water separates into breakable threads.
Remove the syrup from the heat and stir in cinnamon and food coloring (if desired). Dip one apple completely in the syrup and swirl it around a little to coat. Hold the apple above the saucepan to drain off excess. Place the apple on a well-greased pan or wax paper for cooling...and enjoy the Halloween festivities!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |