In our household the holidays can be summarized with 3 F's: Food, Family and Fun! Now I have never been one for Holiday decorating, so if you are looking for nutcrackers or Christmas villages and snowmen, well my house is going to sorely disappoint you. You shall have to go visit my sister's house instead.
But part of our family fun is creating handmade ornaments for our Christmas tree each year. My daughter Zoe and I take a trip down to the local craft store (but not without hitting Starbucks for a peppermint mocha for Mom and caramel apple cider for daughter) and go pick out wooden and glass ornaments to decorate. Then we lay newspapers all over the floor and I let her have at it with paints and glue and glitter. It's a free- for- all of decorating madness. We decorate our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving with the classic Charlie Brown Christmas CD serenading us as we dance around and hang ornaments. One of my favorite Christmas traditions is buying each other new pajamas and opening them on Christmas Eve! We can File this under: FUN!
The words FAMILY AND FOOD are pretty much interchangeable around here. We can't have one without the other! Holidays are centered around food. Insane, over-the-top amounts of food. Thanksgiving means not one but two dinners. I bake a small turkey lunch time dinner for Zoe, John and myself of their favorite Thanksgiving foods. Then the main event takes place at my older sister Sasha's or my Mom's house. This is where we pull out all the stops. Food covers every open surface at the hosting familys house. We just can't help ourselves.
Christmas is the Food Heaviest Celebration of all. And is spent together as a family baking cookies and candies and sharing recipes and the fruits of our labor! I have been dubbed the "Caramel Queen" as I loooove to make handmade caramels at Christmastime. Here is my newest caramel recipe that I have tried out and found to be incredible and would work for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Apple Cider Caramels
Apple Cider Caramels
Recipe adapted by Our Best Bites from America's Dairy Farmers
2 c. high-quality apple cider (like Simply Apple)
1 c. heavy cream or whipping cream, divided
1 tsp. ground cinnamon*
Pinch nutmeg*
1/4 tsp. allspice*
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/3 c. light corn syrup
1 stick (1/2 c.) real butter, cubed
*If you'd rather, you can use 1 tsp. apple pie or pumpkin pie spice + 1/2 tsp. cinnamon instead of the full teaspoon of cinnamon plus the nutmeg and allspice.
Pour cider into a medium saucepan and boil on high for about 20 minutes or until the cider is reduced to 1/3 c. (keep a glass or silicone measuring cup handy so you can pour it out and back in again if you need to). Set aside to cool.
Line an 8" square pan with parchment paper, making sure to leave about 1" hanging over the edges for easy removal. Spray with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. In a small bowl, combine 2/3 c. cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and reduced apple cider. Set aside.
In a large, heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, 1/3 c. whipping cream + enough water to reach the 1/2 c. line on the measuring cup, and corn syrup. Cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Insert the candy thermometer and simmer until the syrup reaches 234 degrees.
Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the cream mixture. Add the cubed butter and stir until the cream and butter are fully incorporated. Return the pan to heat and re-insert the candy thermometer. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until the temperature reaches 248 degrees.
Remove from heat and pour the caramel into the prepared pan. Let the mixture cool completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Cut the caramels into 1/2" squares and wrap each caramel in wax paper. Store in an airtight container or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now it may be a little time intensive, but trust me, it is soooo worth the wait. Delicious, melt in your mouth caramels with a burst of apple and cinnamon! Your tastebuds, family and friends will thank you! I am ALWAYS on the hunt for new candy recipes to try, so if YOU have a favorite HOLIDAY COOKIE, CAKE or CANDY RECIPE, please share!!!!! The more the merrier.
Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday Season!
Comments