tis the season!

 the cooler weather and Christmas season have me

thinking more about cooking and in the last couple of weeks

i've tried two new recipes that i'd like to share with you.

the first is popovers.

is there anything more yummy than a piping hot popover?

i mean really, those big, custardy creations

are just so good. 

but only and i do mean only~ with honey butter slathered on them.

i have never had a real popover pan (i have used a muffin pan with limited success in the past.)

  i saw them at a popular local store two weeks ago for $24, so

 when i saw them at world market a week later

for $8.99 i bought one and wasted no time looking up a recipe and

getting busy.

i'm too lazy tonight to type out the recipe, so i'm cheating with a screen shot of the one i used.

they turned out just like i wanted them too! there are just two important tips to success
 after mixing them up and getting them in the oven.

 1. DO NOT open the oven to check on them.

just do not. it may cause them to fall. 

2. after you take them out of the oven, pierce the side of each one with a sharp

knife to let the steam escape. this too will keep them big and puffed up.

*now, get your honey butter on and enjoy!

popovers are really quick and easy to make~ and chances are on any given day
you have all the ingredients you need in your kitchen.
*p.s. and i used salted butter.

the second thing i've been having fun with is these caramels.

if you haven't heard about this new easy way to make them in the

microwave, you're going to thank me! 

in the past, i've always made them on the stove in a pan and it

involved a candy thermometer and about an hour of my time.

this recipe is about 10 minutes from start to finish and they

are every bit as good.

caramels

1/4 cup unsalted butter (i used salted- it's fine)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup sweetened condensed mild

1/2 tsp. vanilla

opt. coarse sea salt

combine all ingr. except the vanilla and salt in a large microwave bowl.

microwave on high for 6 min. stirring every 2 minutes.

carefully remove~it will be very hot, and stir in the vanilla.

pour into an 8x8 greased baking dish and if you want to add the salt, wait 

5 minutes and then sprinkle some lightly on top.

*cool at room temp. and then cut in squares and wrap individually in wax paper.

i just don't know anyone (unless you're my youngest and you eat so healthy

that you can "just say no") that doesn't love caramels.

*i want to mention that i made the caramels twice (and gave a bunch away), and then

decided to double the batch when i made them again. it just made sense

to me because i wanted to use the

whole can of sweetened condensed milk. like a dummy i only cooked

them for 6 minutes still and it wasn't long enough. if, like me you want to 

double the recipe, cook for 14 minutes, stirring every 2.

these are so easy to whip up and so good it's almost sinful friends.

they'd make really great gifts for neighbors, or the dentist

who does your crowns.

*

i told mine about them while she started my crown today and 

she was so excited i think she may have snuck in the break room 

and made them while i was in the chair.

xo, beth