Caramel Dipped Pretzel Rods

I made these for Jed the other day:)  (He's on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Albania.) Every summer on the last day before school starts our family heads out on an adventure.  We call it our "Last Day of Freedom!"  We make a specific playlist for our iPods, we usually eat breakfast at the Oaks in Ogden Canyon, and then we have the best day doing something just a little special.  For many years we'd head over the dirt road to Park City.  We'd ride the Alpine Slide, and Sky Coaster, but I think the kids favorite part was stopping at the Rocky Mtn. Chocolate Factory on our way to the car.  Everyone could pick something they wanted, and Jed ALWAYS picked these pretzel rods.  Someone would pick a giant rice krispy treat, or a caramel apple to share.  James always picks an enormous Turtle or two.  You know, one needs to be hidden in your underwear drawer  so you can nibble on it over the next few days.  But seriously, Jed picks these pretzel rods every single time.  

As I was trying to decide what to mail him for his Christmas in Albania, this treat was top on my list.  And I figure if it ends up in pieces, they will still be delicious pieces.  So the other night the kids got dip happy, and helped and decorated these little lovelies.  I'm posting the recipe I used, but let me just give this disclaimer.  Candy making can be a little finicky.  Even after making this caramel a million times, I still make batches that can't be saved.  Into the garbage they go.  Just a few weeks ago this happened.  The temps. listed are for my house.  I live at about 4800 ft. above sea level.  The perfect softball stage for me happens at 235'F.  Yours will be different.  So if you don't want to try the homemade caramel, then by all means go the Kraft Caramel route.  I will not think any less of you.  It's so easy that way, and it will still taste amazing!  Also I didn't use REAL chocolate to make these.  I didn't want to deal with tempering, or chocolate blooming so I just bought the cheap chocolate dipping stuff.  Microwave and it's done.    So good luck what ever route you go!!

Caramel Dipped Pretzel Rods

So this recipe is actually my mom's Licorice Caramel recipe minus the black food coloring, and anise flavoring.  


Caramels

1 c. butter (Yep 2 whole sticks)
1 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 c. light corn syrup
1/4 t. salt
2 c. brown sugar
1 t. vanilla


Slowly melt butter in heavy, large pan. Use fork to swirl butter up sides of the pant to prevent sugar crystals. When melted, add the rest of the ingredients, except flavoring. Turn heat to medium high, cook and stir constantly with a flat bottom wooden spoon. (Don't cook on high and stir constantly. It burns quickly and easily. I usually scorch the bottom of the pan and there will be dark brown chunks floating everywhere. As long as they're not black chunks, you should be ok.) Cook to softball stage. For me that is 235' F. I live at 4800 ft. above sea level. Check your thermometer and altitude and adjust accordingly. Remove from heat and add the vanilla.  Pour into a greased 9x13 inch pan for square caramels, or dip large pretzel rods into caramel.  Once you dip the pretzels place the rod on a wax paper lined cookie sheet of counter top.  If you don't have wax paper you can grease a cookie sheet or the counter top.  If you don't spray, your caramel will stick and you will cry.  Let set for a few hours or overnight in a cool place. Melt some chocolate.  Any kind.  White, dark, or milk chocolate.  You can use the dipping fake chocolate, or the real stuff.  Whatever works.  Dip each caramel dipped rod into chocolate and sprinkle cute sprinkles on them.  Place back on wax paper until chocolate is set.  

*another suggestion for the caramel is just a bag of Kraft Caramel squares.  Melt these and dip you pretzels.  It will turn out just as spectacular.  

This recipe is time consuming, but so worth it once it's done:)

Berry Napoleon

This was Jed's last dessert.  (Sorry!  Elder Clawson.) The last thing I would fix him for the next 2 years!  He'll be serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He's headed to Albania, and Kosovo, and Macedonia, and Montenegro!  I didn't even know where those countries were 5 months ago.  And I swear there was a war there just a few years ago.  1999 isn't just a few, but it seems like yesterday.  And do you remember the bad guys on the movie Taken?  Yup!  They were from Albania.  My outlook on these countries has changed lately.  Jed is going to LOVE serving there! (Shameless plug to check out his mission blog!  It's on the right hand side.  Just right over there:)

 A Napoleon is so stinking easy to make, and it always impresses the folks you serve it to.  You can make it all fancy, by making a homemade pudding if you'd like.  I just used Jello Cook and Serve Vanilla pudding.  I may have substituted a little cream in for the milk, but who cares.  My son just left for Albania for 2 years!  He deserves a little something special:)

I followed the recipe off the back of the Pepperidge Farms Puff Pastry Dough.  Turned out perfect, and it took no time at all.  You could use any type of berry, or fresh peaches in a month or two, and even frozen berries would work.  In about a month I'm expecting my blackberry patch to EXPLODE with berries, and this Napoleon will take on a blackberry variety.  Enjoy making this.  I know we licked up every last crumb.

Berry Napoleon

recipe courtesy of Pepperidge Farms 

All-purpose flour

1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet)

1 pkg. (about 3 1/2 ounces) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix

1 cup milk

1 cup heavy cream, whipped or 2 cups thawed frozen whipped topping

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

2 tsp. milk

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen sliced strawberries

Heat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.

Sprinkle the work surface with the flour. Unfold the pastry sheet onto the floured surface. Cut the pastry sheet into 3 strips along the fold marks. (I actually cut the dough into 9 squares.  A little more personal.)  Place the pastry strips onto the prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown.  Remove the pastries from the baking sheets and let cool on wire racks for 10 minutes. Split the pastries into 2 layers, making 6 layers in all.

Prepare the pudding mix according to the package directions with 1 cup milk in a large bowl. Fold in the whipped cream. Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes. To make icing, stir the confectioners’ sugar and 2 teaspoons milk in a small bowl.

Spread the icing on 2 top pastry layers. Spread 3/4 cup pudding mixture on 4 pastry layers. Top each with about 1/3 cup strawberries. Stack 1 strawberry-topped layer onto a second one to make 2 stacks. Top each stack with an iced pastry layer. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.

Helper: For easier slicing, refrigerate the Napoleons for a least 1 hour and use a wet serrated knife.

Serving Suggestion: The pastries may be drizzled with 1 square (1 ounce) semi-sweet chocolate, melted, before serving.

Recipe Note: Parchment paper keeps the pastry from sticking to the baking sheet and also makes for easier cleanup. If you don't have parchment paper, you can spray the baking sheet with cooking spray instead. However, cooking spray may cause the bottoms of the pastries to brown more quickly, so begin checking for doneness 5 minutes early.

Perfect Chocolate Cookies

These cookies are fan- tastic!  And my oldest son is becoming the best cookie baker on the planet.  He made these the other day.  Some little girl is going to be very lucky one day to get him:)  I mean if a man can make a perfect cookie, he is the perfect catch.  Jed's had a lot of practice over the last 6 months.  He was the main cookie maker at Great Harvest when we had a 28,000 cookie order during the month of Dec.   And he just made 600 of the tastiest Snickerdoodles I've ever tasted, and acted as if it was no big deal.  I guess with the quantity of cookies that Jed's been baking he should be a pro by now.  It's just to bad though that he leaves in less than 35 days on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to the Adriatic South Mission. (It includes Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Montenegro.)  We could have really used him as a sweet baker:)  This cookie recipe is a great base to make it into YOUR favorite cookie.  Add a little mint extract, or add lots of different chocolates with slivered almonds.  How about Caramel Chips with pecans.  The variations are endless, and delicious.  Enjoy!

Perfect Chocolate Cookies

1 c. butter

1 c. shortening

1 1/2 c. granulated sugar

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

 4 eggs

1 T. water

2 t. vanilla

5 1/2 c. flour

3/4 c. cocoa powder

1 1/2 t. baking soda

1 1/2 t. salt

2+ c. chocolate chips

Jed added white chocolate chips, and milk chocolate chunks:)

optional ingredients:

nuts

any chip of choice

mint extract instead of vanilla

dried fruit

1/2 t. cinnamon

Add what you'd like to make the perfect cookie for you.

Cream butter, shortening, sugars, eggs, water, and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients and mix until combined.  Add the mix-ins of choice.  Bake at 365'F for 10-12 minutes.  Enjoy!

Homecoming

Ain't they cute.  My son is with the girl in the purple dress.  Strapping young man!

My oldest son is 16.  He's driving. He's dating.  He's handsome, and wonderful, and he loves being this age.  I remember 16.  We'll the poor kid has a June birthday so he missed every dance his sophomore year of high school.  He missed a lot of stuff due to his not being old enough to do much and the fact that NO ONE wants to give rides to the kid who lives in Timbuktu.  So now that he is more mobile he is having a great time in high school.

Table set for the Homecoming Dinner

The high school celebrated their Homecoming a few weeks ago, as well as Utah State having their homecoming and one of the other high schools having their homecoming that week as well.  That meant a lot of kids and people coming to town, eating at a limited amount of restaurants.  We thought maybe a dinner at home would be a good alternative to Olive Garden.  I definitely thought that was a better option than Olive Garden.  So the plan was made.  Dinner was going to be at the Clawson's for a group of hungry, cute, and handsome highschoolers.

We had a great night!  The weather worked perfectly for us.  And the night was enchanting if I do say so myself.  The menu consisted of  a wonderful Anything Salad, Hollie's Famous BBQ Ribs, garlic mashed potatoes (trying to limit the teenage kissing!) veggies, cheese bread, and for dessert Emma's Amazing Chocolate Lava Cakes.  All in all I think it turned out great.  The table set outside under a tent was beautiful, and the kids were fantastic.  I even received a Thank You card from a couple of the girls the next week.  Talk about some great kids.  What a fun night!  And just to clarify---------I think there was some lip action that night even with the Garlic Mashed Potatoes:)  I'm sure I never did such a thing.  (Mom lets not reply to this statement.  My kids don't need to know what their mother was like:)

The Best Race Yet

Jed's trophy!

Handsome boys I've got, don't you think!

Sat. morning the alarm didn't go off at 5:10am as it was supposed to.  Luckily I had been dreaming about running a 1/2 marathon where there were pear tarts, and apple pie, and all sorts of goodies that I ate at every stop.  Pretty soon I couldn't run anymore.  All I could do was waddle and I still had 11 miles to go.  It was a frightening dream.  I woke up because of the stress the dream was causing and luckily I was only 5 minutes behind schedule.  Yeah!   Good thing I had everything laid out in advance.  I was ready in a couple of minutes as well as James, and Jed.  Yes you heard it right......James and Jed ran with me too.  

I've run a few 1/2 marathons with my running gals, but my boys decided to join me this year.  I was glad since I'm a bit slower than years past and I thought James and Jed could stay back with me.  I don't know why, but I've been sucking wind the last few weeks and I didn't want to hold the other girls back. Um, maybe it's the homemade marshmallows, or Lomond View Peanut Butter bars or other delectable treats I've been sampling. Just a thought:)  James ran with me the whole time and Jed just took off at his own pace.  He did awesome!!  1 hour and 54 mins. and 3rd place in his age division!  Isn't that great!!  James and I came in a bit later, but I was so happy for Jed who cares if I was slow.  Colette and Wendy were cheering me on across the finish line, I saw my best friend from when I was in elementary, and her mom who was one of my favorite YW leaders!  I love days like that. 

I Love Birthday Cake

Happy birthday to our first born Jed.  He turned 14 last Mon. June 15th.  That was also the day that our family decided to play pioneers for a few days with the 450 other youth and leaders of our stake.  So needless to say Jed's birthday was pushed forward one day, and we celebrated on the 14th with the biggest birthday cake ever.  It is a very luscious 4 layer Chocolate Cream Cake!!! I love it, and my kids love it, and James loves it, and even my little mama loves it!!  It is a great day when a birthday cake is requested.  Especially since this is the one and only birthday cake I make.  I really should venture out, but why ruin a really great thing!  

Come Mon. morning we even had it for breakfast before we left to become pioneers.  Now that is a breakfast of champions.  My kids were singing all morning long that song Bill Cosby sings about, "Mom is great!!  She gives us chocolate cake."  You know it has eggs, and milk and whole grains.  A great breakfast!  

Now I must brag about Jed too since it was his birthday that brought about the favorite cake. Jed surprised us a little early the day he decided to be born.  My water broke at 4:30am and my contractions started immediately and they were only 3 mins. apart from the get go.   We had just moved to Pocatello 2 weeks earlier and my doc was in Ogden.  I specifically remember her telling me to make sure I was at the hospital by the time my contractions were 5 mins. apart. Well we had missed that whole part completely.  Jed was coming fast.  Luckily my dad had let us borrow his extra large, extra fast, super duper, big ole Mercedes.  He must have known.  All I grabbed as I ran out the door was a really large towel so I wouldn't get that beautiful car dirty with baby goo.  That would have just been bad.  Now this next part may sound like an exaggeration, but it is not.  We really made it to Ogden in about 55 mins.  It usually took 1 hour and 45 mins.  James had the flashers going and it was like we were parting the red sea.  Luckily there were no policemen around.  Only truck drivers who could tell there must be trouble coming down the road that fast.  James sped at a steady 140 mph all the way to McKay Dee Hospital without saying a word.  He was scared to death, and I was just praying to not have the baby in the car.  It would ruin the interior, and my dad would be ticked!  We almost stopped to have the baby in Malad, Tremonton, and Brigham but those contractions all passed.  We made it safely to Ogden, where Jed was delivered very shortly thereafter.  

Later that day, my mom was holding baby Jed and started sniffing him.  You know, babies are supposed to have that wonderful "baby" smell.  Not Jed.  He actually wreaked of garlic.  Poor kid.  The night before we had eaten at a great Italian restaurant called Buddy's that was famous for their salad.  Obviously there was a ton of garlic in it and it had gone through me and Jed. That poor doctor.  That is just sick!  I'm sure that surgical mask was keeping her from passing out on my delivery:)  

Jed has been our favorite oldest son since:) Garlic breath and all.   He is a great skier, wake boarder, talker, and dancer.  He has tons of friends, and he loves girls!  One day he may even be a great student.  He is extremely smart, but we're working on the grade thing.  We love him, and his choice of birthday cake anyway.

Chocolate Cream Cake

(adapted from the Lion House Desserts cookbook)

1 pkg. devil's food cake mix made according to directions.  

Bake the cake in 2-round cake tins.  When done let cool and then wrap in a towel, or wax paper and freeze for a couple of hours.  It is way easier to cut the layers if it is frozen.

Chocolate Frosting

4 T. cocoa

3 c. powdered sugar

4 T. butter

2-3 T. milk

1 t. vanilla

Add all ingredients together and beat forever.  I place it in my stand mixer and let it beat for about 5 mins. until it is light and fluffy.  I also double the chocolate frosting.  It is always better to have to much than not enough.

Stabilized Whipping Cream

1 T. gelatin

1/4 c. cold water

3 c. whipping cream whipped

 3/4 c. powdered sugar

1 1/2 t. vanilla

1/4 c. cocoa (optional)

Combine gelatin with water in a small saucepan.  Let stand until thick.  Over low heat, stir constantly until just dissolved.  Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.  Slowly drizzle into the cream that you have already beat until pretty stiff and added the sugar and vanilla.  

Stabilized whipping cream will hold up for 4-5 days without separating.  It can also be used to garnish cheesecakes or in any recipe that calls for whipped cream.

To assemble cake take the frozen cake layers and cut each cake in half.  You now have 4 cake layers.  Place one layer down and top with cream.  Squish it down until it is even and spread through.  Repeat with the remaining layers.  You will have 4 layers of cake and 3 layers of cream.  I place a broken pencil or chopstick down the middle of the cake.  This keeps it from sliding and tipping over.  Now frost with the chocolate frosting all around.  I topped mine with mini chocolate chips just to make it look pretty.  It is a super tall cake that is impressive.  It will feed a ton.  At least 12 huge slices, but you could probably get 16 or more slices.  It isn't rich at all, and you could eat the whole cake if  you're not careful.  I love this stuff!

I'm Not a Loser

Just a quick note to tell about Jed's elections yesterday.  This is the texts I recieived.

He's walking down the driveway with his head hung low, and his posters all rolled up.

He walked in the door and threw his backpack on the floor and his head is still hung low.

He just sat at the table and burst into tears.......of delight!  I'm not a loser!

Congrats Jed!  We think he's great!  Here's the posters Uncle Doug created for Jed's campaign. Jed is now called Jedward at school.  Thanks Doug for the great posters.  You are the best!!

We Love, Love, Love Potstickers (and hurt shoulders)

We had quite an eventful weekend. James was actually out of town for the Priest's High Adventure Activity so it was just me and the kids. Jed didn't have school on Fri. since it was the end of the Trimester and his school had a few busses taking students up to Snowbasin for the day skiing. Talk about an excited 13 year old. Jed had numerous friends going, and had packed the perfect lunch for the outing. (His favorite Pilgrim sandwich, hold the tomatoes!) At about 12:30 I get a call from a strange cell phone and this is what I heard on the other end.

Jed: "Hi mom? I think I broke my shoulder. (giggle, giggle, giggle. Numerous girls in the background screaming, "he did an awesome jump!! You should have seen it!")

Me: (really ticked) "So do you want me to come get you?"

Jed: "Ah, no. I'll just ski without my poles the rest of the day"

So I let him stay. When he got home he couldn't lift his arm and it hurt, but nothing was swollen or out of place, and I was not going to the Instacare on a Fri. night. ( horrible mother I know!) Sat. we just waited for James to get home, and as soon as he did he was off to the Instacare with Jed. Now I really felt bad. I must be a slug of a mother to not care enough to get my son checked out. In my guilt, we who were left at home made over 100 potstickers since they are everyones favorite things. James got me hooked on these when I first met him and now the whole family is addicted. They are lovely little bites from his mission in Taiwan and really not that hard to make at home. James calls them Shway Jows. There are some lovely Chinese characters attached to that word but my computer doesn't speak Chinese. Everyone got into making them. I had fillers, and pinchers, and plenty of eaters. Jed and James were thrilled when they got home.

All is well. Jed is fine. Only a sprained shoulder, a $300 Instacare bill, and tons of potstickers to immerse ourselves in. Jed said the whole thing was "Way worth it!" Up skiing, Jed was the center of all the attention. Girls everywhere loving him and wanting to mother him and wondering if he was going to live. He was in pure bliss. I don't feel like that bad of a mother anymore. I'm the best actually, I was told. Something about putting yummy food in your family's tummies and all bad is forgotten. There wasn't one potsticker left after all was said and done. Only lovely little driplets of "shway sauce" and vinegar proved that any potstickers had been in our home. So we're making them again this weekend. If you want to come please do. The more the merrier!! But please no Instacare visits to interupt our eating.

Pot Stickers

1 lb. ground pork

1 16 oz pkg. silken tofu

chopped garlic

chopped green onions

2 T. hoisin sauce

shredded carrot

shredded cabbage

2 T. cornstarch

Mix all the ingredient together. It doesn't have to be precise. If you don't have everything, improvise! You will need about 2 pkg. of wonton wrappers. Place a small spoonful of filling onto each wrapper and pinch edges together. Repeat a million times! When done I place the little pouches on a hot griddle and toast the bottoms. Then place in a pot of boiling water and let simmer for about 4-5 mins. Remove from pan and serve with dipping sauce. Delish!!

Dipping Sauce (Shway sauce as Jake says it)

equal parts soy sauce

vinegar

a titch of Sambal chili sauce if you have it. If not just use the soy and vinegar.