New product I will be adding to my Urban Hobo line…”Salted Caramels”. Yum Yum! I have to tell you….this was NOT an easy task for me. Being new to candy-making…I was trying to master the “soft ball and hard ball” stages. Like I said… not an easy task.
First time I made it, was too hard. However, Juan (my master taste tester) LOVED them. Reminded him of a See’s Sucker…I wanted them to be soft and chewy, not hard that would break your teeth. I tried a second time and was so nervous about the candy getting to hard I took it off the heat too soon and now way too soft. (I know it sounds like Goldilocks and the Three Bears) Again, Juan loved the texture and taste with the bit of sea salt it really topped it off.
I tried again and again… a little nervous as my candy thermometer I began to have no faith in and started doing it more traditional or old school….getting a small dish of water and testing for hardness of mixture.
It was better; however still not keeping a form (cut into small squares) so it needed to go longer. HOWEVER, Juan did come up with a great idea…”Dipping Sauce”
Of course we tried it by reheating the mixture and slicing some apples and dipped into the warm caramel goodness. You know what??? It was awesome. A great sauce to heat up fondue style or top your favorite ice cream dessert.
Alas, SUCCESS! I got the soft ball stage perfect AND I was able to cut into squares and wrap with wax paper. They look great, kinda “old school” style candy.
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| My "friends" like it |
So now…I will have caramel suckers, caramel chews and delectable sauce ready to order in the very near future. I’m so excited to have mastered the caramel chews as I hate to lose at something …. And each day I would gather the ingredients and explain to Juan that “This is it!...I am getting it today” Well, I attempted many times and FINALLY won!
To be continued…
Wow! It seems like yesterday I was putting up a Christmas tree! (I know I know time flies for me)
Now we have red and pink hearts decorating windows and storefronts…cookies, cupcakes and chocolate with “I Love You”, “Be Mine” or “Run Away with Me”.
For me…Valentine’s Day isn’t about the one day a year….it is about the other 364 days…. a reminder how lucky I am to have Juan in my life!
He is my best friend and I married him…of course if you ask him, he would say that I would have had a much L-O-N-G-E-R engagement and I should’ve said yes sooner etc. (wink wink smiley face)
Juan doesn’t have to worry about spending the outrageous cost for flowers or buy me another sparkly diamond…I really never was into that. A homemade card or dinner made at home is perfect for me.
Taking the time to do something special for your loved one can make up for any pricey gift or flowers.
So today I wish you and yours a wonderful Valentine’s Day and I hope it’s special. Especially if you live in a cozy 900 square foot home.
Yup! I’ll say it again….”My name is Shawn and I am a Pinterest addict”. My iphone battery life?... Never had to worry about since I make calls, a couple of text messages and some internet browsing, always had plenty of battery life. NOW…I am running my battery out, forever searching for my charger and any available plug! I know I know! I’ve got a problem! (wink wink smiley face)
Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard. It lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find in your life. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. (Taken from ipad app)
What is so great about this social site is the ability to view anything YOU want based on categories and eliminate much of the “drama” one sees on facebook and other social media sites.
Based on categories…you can look up “DIY and Crafts” or “Men or Women’s Style” or “Stuff for the Home”…even a “Technology” category. So you can sift through what you want to see. The cool thing is it brings up pictures that you might find cool or interesting…OR….a delicious recipe or a great way to organize/build a work desk…OR a wonderful place to visit!
Bottom line…you can enjoy a variety of things, “repin” the ones you love to your pinboard, AND add your own stuff too!
Since Juan and I have started our “Urban Hobo”, we’ve had the opportunity to add some of our “Art” and “Artful Edibles online. It’s exciting to see when someone “likes” your picture and even better…when someone “repins” your stuff.
You can get great ideas, learn something new or just enjoy the beautiful scenery someone has captured on film!
So be sure you check it out..Pinterest. I’m sure if you follow me, I will be adding new stuff I find on my pinboard. Oooppps there goes my battery again. I guess I should get on my laptop. (wink wink smiley face)
Anyone else addicted to Pinterest? Have you found some neat ideas especially for storage or organization? Please write to me…I would love to hear! You can email me shawn@urban-hobo.com or post a comment either way, would love some input.
