Salted Golden Caramel Bars

Salted caramel - it's all the rage in desserts. How could it be that much different than plain caramel? It just is - take my word. These are like grown up Rice Krispy Treats - and the trick is to keep them refrigerated.

Ingredients
Vegetable oil for greasing dishes
8 cups Rice Krispies
3/4 cup corn syrup
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
4 Tbsp Land O' Lakes butter
1 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips, melted

1. Liberally oil a large mixing bowl and a 9x13 baking dish. Place cereal in bowl and set it aside.

2. In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, combine corn syrup, condensed milk, sugars, butter and sea salt. Allow mixture to come to a boil, while stirring continuously until light golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes.

3. Remove mixture from heat, stir in vanilla and immediately pour over cereal. Stir to completely mix and then spread evenly in prepared pan.

4. Set aside to let cool, about 45 minutes. Invert to release from pan. Drizzle with melted chocolate and refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator because they taste better.

Cheeseburger Chowder - it's that good!

For my birthday, I thought it would be fun to make Cheeseburger Chowder - and what would be better to go with it than fries?! So that is what I did... and it was a hit!

Ingredients
1 lb. ground chuck
3/4 cup chopped onion
4 Tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup diced carrots
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley (if you have it - I didn't and it was still great!)
3 cups chicken broth
4 cups peeled & diced potatoes
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
2 cups cubed process American Cheese* (Velveeta) see note
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup sour cream

Garnish
Chopped tomato
Chopped dill pickle

Serve with one or more
Salty fries
Tortilla chips
Saltines

Brown ground chuck, drain and set aside. In same pan, saute onion in 1 Tbsp of butter until tender. Add garlic, carrots, basil and parsley (if using.) Saute for about 3 minutes. Add broth, beef and potatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover, simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the carrots and potatoes are very tender. Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in a small skillet. Add flour and cook, stirring for 3 to 5 minutes. Gradually add in evaporated milk, stirring constantly for 6 to 8 minutes. Gradually stir the sauce into the soup. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add cheese, salt and pepper. Continue to stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream - do this just before serving. (If you make the soup ahead, hold off on adding the sour cream until just before serving.) Garnish each serving with chopped tomatoes and chopped dill pickles - or set out in bowls for a make-your-own soup station. Serve with salty fries, tortilla chips or saltine crackers. Yum!

Note: I compared several recipes before deciding on this one. At least one of them called for American Cheese from the deli - not the prepacked stuff. I should have read this recipe before going to the store, because as you can see, it calls for American Process (meaning a box of Velveeta) cheese. I thought this recipe called for the kind from the deli, so I spent a bit more money and 2 tired hands later, had some great soup. The next time I make it, I am going to try it with the box of Velveeta and see how it turns out. Just so you know, the real American from the deli was SUPERB!

Nine West - they wouldn't give me the time of day...

Yesterday, we went to the mall in search of shoes for Owen. The recent Sketcher's purchase wasn't such a good buy. After 3 weeks of school, the straps are already beginning to fray - not a good sign.

Sketchers Super Z Gripperz - not recommended:


These are the new ones we bought from Stride Rite - Nickelodeon LQD Vortex Slimers:


I am still a girl, I think... yet for some reason I am not such a fan of going to the mall anymore. Maybe it is because I have 3 boys with me every time I go (one of which seems to have an eyebrow twitch every time I pick up something over $20.) Maybe it is because I am working part-time and can't have everything I lay my hands on. Something has changed though.

When I worked full time, I had lots of pairs of Nine West shoes. I thought nothing of walking into the store and trying on whatever I wanted and sometimes their new shoes couldn't keep up with what I already owned. I would sigh and walk out empty handed.

Yesterday was different. I walked into the store straight toward cheetah print peep toes and not a single person asked if they could help me.

Nine West Sharina Peep Toes:


Later Jim asked if the salesperson walked past me without trying to help me. Ok, maybe I didn't noticed that, but yeah, I think he was right. We walked away and he held onto my hand to soothe me. What has changed? And can these salespeople see the change on the outside? What is this thing anyway? Does it have a name? Is it simply that I am not cool anymore? Do I look like a person who wouldn't be wearing Nine West shoes? What exactly was it that made it ok to walk past me without a second glance...? I will admit, I was a little bit sad as I walked away hand-in-hand with Jim. It has been 10 years almost (September 23!) and maybe I am going to be ok. Maybe I am not Nine West worthy anymore. As long as I have my 3 boys, I think I AM ok. I think...

Miles Murphy Vanilla Milk with Torani Syrup

Miles isn't such a big fan of milk most of the time. He isn't really in love with chocolate milk either. Today, I thought, why not use the same vanilla flavoring that the coffee shops use to flavor coffee? (We've tried vanilla extract and that soooo doesn't work!) We picked up a bottle at Walmart and they loved it! Only 35 calories and 8g sugar per tablespoon and for them I only needed 1. Win, win - yum yum!

Skyline Chili - ever heard of it?

I am betting that most of you have never heard of Skyline Chili. I bet those same people have never been to Cincinnati. Well, if you are ever there, do yourself a favor and stop by any of the Skyline restaurants and have a 3-way. It will change your life!

Note: You can actually buy cans of Skyline Chili at Kroger. It is actually pretty darn close to what you would eat at a Skyline Diner. Skyline Chili is not the chili your mom makes (unless she is Greek), not the chili your dad makes or any of the ones you've tasted at the FlightSafety Annual Chili Cookoff. It rocks the savory/sweet combination and with cheddar cheese on top - well, it is just a little slice of heaven - from Cincinnati.

Here is the recipe - you will want this. It takes two bites to fall in love. The first bite will confuse you - then go in for that second bite. You're hooked!

Skyline Chili (I should totally be charging for this recipe!)

2 lbs. ground beef
3 cups beef broth
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
2 bay leaves
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 onion (very finely chopped)
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2tsp salt
2 tsp cumin
1 1/2tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp chili powder
1 1/2tsp AllSpice
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp cocoa
1/4 tsp ground cloves
Spaghetti noodles
Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese


Serve over spaghetti noodles with LOTS of shredded cheddar cheese on top - this is known as a "3-Way."

Cook ground beef and onion, mincing finely with a spatula as it cooks - the meat should be very fine. When it is almost browned, add in beef stock, tomato sauce and all of the other ingredients. Simmer for 1 hour uncovered, stirring every few minutes. (15 minutes before the chili is ready, boil spaghetti noodles & drain.) Remove the bay leaves.

I mix the noodles in with the chili because I like the noodles to absorb the savory-sweet-cheesiness. Yum!

For our Big Tex Jim ...

Dearest Jim,

You've missed a lot these last two weeks. We thought you might like to see what we've been up to since you've been gone...

We've eaten our eggs...



And a heathy dinner of mud-pie hotdogs...



We went to Sand Gnats Day Camp ...



Where we got very hot and sweaty...



Thank goodness Mommy knows how to make icy cold drinks ...



And something tasty to eat...



We started 2nd Grade with a BANG...



And we got excited about our first day of 4 Year Old Preschool...



And Mommy had to hold back the tears, because we were just too excited...



We completed our first preschool assignment - "Decorate Your House..."





And we've been BIG HELPERS to Mom...



We got our football gear and now we're ready...



All in all, I think we've been pretty brave...



And we've tried to walk the line - just like you do...



But sometimes we've needed some help along the way...



Other times we were just worn out ...



And played guitar to ease the pain of missing you...



So now we sit patiently and wait...



And we stare longingly out the window, waiting for you to come home...



We miss you Dad! Come home soon!
Love, Candace, Owen & Miles

Skinny Frozen Hot Chocolate...

As I look around my kitchen, countertops covered in array of ingredients for the second time today, I've decided that perhaps I do like to cook/bake/mix/make more than the average Jane.

Here is the Friday afternoon treat of the week:



Skinny Frozen Hot Chocolate

1/2 cup chocolate syrup
1 cup fat-free evaporated milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups ice cubes
Toppings: Reduced Fat Reddi Whip, dark chocolate shavings, cinnamon shaker, etc.

1. Combine chocolate syrup, evaporated milk, vanilla and ice in a blender until smooth.

2. Pour into cups, top with Reddi Whip and sprinkle with cinnamon or chocolate curls.

Options: For mexican flare, add in 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon to the mixture before blending. For mint version, substitute mint flavoring in lieu of vanilla.

Blue Bell Moo-llenium Crunch Ice Cream vs. Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk

The Challenger ...


The Favorite...


Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk is my all-time favorite. In the days before the boys were born, Jim and I would pile on the couch with two teeny spoons and proceed to try to share the pint. I gave Jim all of the white chocolate chunks - ick - and he gave me extra bites of dark chocolate chunks. The boys were born and all of that cutesie "share some Ben & Jerry's" was over. (Monsters like mine would inhale that perfect pint in 30 seconds!) Flash forward to now - I just discovered Blue Bell's Moo-llenium Crunch Ice Cream! It is a half-gallon - so plenty to share with your orangutan and your kids too! Win win!

Turns out that Moo-llenium Crunch will save you a bucketload of calories and fat too! This just gets better and better!

Here is how they stack up:

Moo-llenium Crunch - 1/2 cup serving size
Calories: 190
Fat: 11g
Carbs: 19g
Protein: 4g

New York Super Fudge Chunk - 1/2 cup serving size
Calories: 300
Fat: 20g
Carbs: 29g
Protein: 4g

On the menu board for Friday...

Banana Crunch Muffins - my mom's favorite!



This is a Barefoot Contessa recipe. The Barefoot Contessa is Ina Garten - I have ALL of her cookbooks. You can watch her on Food Network everyday at 1:30pm EST. She reminds me of Marsha-Marsha-Marsha (my aunt) - they favor. Unlike Ina, Marsha does not have cute (mostly gay) men coming in and out of her kitchen like a revolving door on 5th Avenue.

This is Ina.



These are the Banana Crunch Muffins I will bake tomorrow.




This is Ina's friend "T.R." (So now you want to watch the show, right?)



All of the above are very GOOD THINGS. Enjoy!

One more year!

We are Packer fans... mostly. Our "G" is not for Georgia (UGA, Dawgs, blah blah)

Ours is for the PACK, as in Green Bay, as in FROZEN TUNDRA...



Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaambeau Field!



We do, however, watch Brett Favre ...



No matter what jersey he is wearing...



Around this time of year, he wears a crown with his jersey (some of you might call him a drama queen...) Nevertheless, he will play - and we will be watching.

Some of you girls might be standing around the kitchen, but I will be on the edge of my seat ... and sometimes next to the tv screen - fists balled, holding my breath, hoping and praying that he will not throw an interception. There is only one Brett Favre - only one #4. All hail THE QUEEN!



P.S. This is Aaron Rodgers - our current quarterback - and he is awesome... he's just not Brett.

Potato Croquettes...

The eyes of 5 Yukon Gold potatoes were staring at me in the kitchen yesterday. With my mom and Aunt Marsha-Marsha-Marsha sitting in the kitchen, I decided to make a little afternoon snack (which turned into dinner because it took a bit longer that I expected because someeone had to make the mashed potatoes homemade ... hmmm, wonder who that was?)





In a large bowl, stir together 2 cups mashed potatoes and 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley, season with salt & pepper, mix in 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and several tablespoons bacon crumbles.



In shallow bowl, place 1 cup all-purpose flour. In another shallow bowl, whisk 2 large eggs with 2 tablespoons water. In third shallow bowl, place 1 1/2 cups seasoned bread crumbs.



Form potato mixture into 3/4 inch by 2 inch logs.

Roll in flour, shaking off excess.



Dip in egg wash.

(There really isn't a way to make egg wash look pretty.)

Roll in bread crumbs to coat.



In a heavy dutch oven or chicken fryer, heat 1 1/2 inches canola oil over medium high until hot. In batches, fry croquettes until golden on all sides, about 2 minutes total per batch, turning as needed.



Drain on paper towels.

Makes lots - you will be at the stove for awhile - prepare to get HOT!