Thursday, October 30, 2014

Apples and Pumpkins oh my!

I love cooking and baking with apples and pumpkins.  There are so many fantastic recipes that it drives me crazy I don't have enough time to make them all.  Ignoring the fact that all those calories would be detrimental to my waistline, I suppose it is a good thing I don't have enough time.


One of my favorite traditions is to make homemade caramel apples. I am not meaning just caramel; I'm talking gourmet with chocolate, white chocolate and toppings to boot Caramel Apples.  I have been making Caramel Apples for years.

In spite of my experience, when I saw a pin for similar Caramel Apples on Pinterest, I pinned it.  I have to say I liked what she had to say on that web site.  Most of her ideas I knew but some were new, for example: her idea of using squeeze bottles for adding drizzled chocolate.  However I am not convinced I want to do that due to clean up.  I use plastic baggies then toss them when finished, a lot easier in my opinion.

Here is the web site I pinned http://www.theyummylife.com/Gourmet_Caramel_Apples.

Here are my photos and tips...

 I love this tip of making your crock pot into a double broiler.  It works real slick.
 I say to my kids all the time, "You are limited only by your imagination" and that is true when it comes to toppings.  The toppings I have here are crunched up oreos (both traditional and pumpkin spice), crunched up butterfingers, toffee bits, Jet-Puffed Mallow Bits from Kraft (super small marshmallows and crunchy; the way I like them) and coconut.  Other toppings I used but not in the picture are M&Ms and nuts. Jenn says her favorite is pretzels, looks like I am making caramel apples again, oh bummer.
or want easy clean up, a sandwiche plastic bag.
Since S Since I don't have the squeeze bottles I used the zip baggies, where you clip one corner.  I think for now I will stick with this techniques for simplicity sake.


My most recently discovered tip is to squeeze all your leftover melted chocolate into a bowl with plastic wrap over it.  Then all you do is wrap it up and let it harden.  Take it out of the bowl for easy storage and the next time you want melted chocolate it is easy to transfer it to the container you are using.

Finally, eating the apples off the stick is far too difficult, slice it up as if it did not have the carmel and chocolate goodness on it and share it with a friend (or not)!  These make GREAT teacher gifts!!!

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Easy (and slightly gross but completely awesome) Halloween appetizers
Saw this on http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com/2012/10/spooky-halloween-treats.html?m=1 and http://www.examiner.com/list/tips-tricks-and-recipes-to-gross-out-your-guests-this-halloween
Fast, easy and pretty cheap to do!  The fingers grossed the kids out so much no one ate any haha!  Best $.97 I ever spent!







I love homemade guacamole: I use fresh avocados (2-4), salt (to taste), garlic powder, onion powder, lime juice.  Honestly I do everything in this recipe to taste...sorry I hate when recipes say that!  Mash it all up and voila!

Finally!

Hi!  Welcome to my crazy little life!  My sister in law Julie and I have been talking about blogging for a long time but we hadn't done anything about it...I LOVE Pinterest and I love cooking...(because I love eating) soooo...I had just whipped up some delicious caramel corn (recipe to follow as listed on my friend Rosa's blog) when an idea popped into my head for a name--I am a picky eater and I hate wasting time and resources on food that isn't worth eating.  Thus, Pinned There, Cooked that (and more) was born!  Think the movie Julie and Julia meets Pinterest ;) thanks for following and hope you come back for more!
Perfect Amazing Deliciously Gooey Caramel Corn
(Rosasattemptatcooking.blogspot.com--caramel corn #1)
Air popped pop corn (remove the seeds) about 2 cups kernals
1 cube Butter
1/2 C Karo Syrup
1 C Brown Sugar
1/2 C Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 tsp Vanilla

Mix butter, syrup and sugar in a mot bring to a boil over med heat.
Remove from heat and add milk.  Put back on the stove and bring to a boil.
Stir constantly 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.
Pour over popcorn--Will stay soft and gooey for at least a couple days if kept covered.
Also delicious to dip apples in!