Caramel Popcorn

Brian's specialty is caramel popcorn.  The soft kind.  It's one of the things we like to make on Sundays when we need a treat, so it's important to have all the ingredients (Makenzie!  ingredients!) in your house all the time.  Just in case of emergency, you know.

1 cube butter

1 c. light Karo syrup

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. sweetened condensed milk

1 big bowl of popped popcorn (not microwave popcorn)

In a large saucepan, combine butter, syrup, brown sugar, and condensed milk.  Bring to a boil, then take it off the heat.  Pour over popped popcorn and stir.

Sweet & Salty Almonds

You know I wouldn't be typing this up again if you didn't REALLY need this recipe. They're the best! We take them on every road trip. Also, very easy to double.

2 c. raw almonds

1/4 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt (my favorite is using the sea salt)

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2 T. honey

2 T. water

2 tsp. vegetable oil

Spread raw almonds on a large baking sheet so that they are just one layer. Put in a cold oven, then turn the oven on to 350 degrees. Roast the almonds for about 15 minutes or until you can smell them ("I CAN SMELL YOU").

While the almonds are roasting, put the honey, water, and vegetable oil in a large skillet. Whisk until everything is combined, then put it on medium heat. Let it bubble for a few minutes, then add the roasted nuts to the skillet. Coat the almonds with the honey mixture and heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. (You shouldn't have any liquid left in the skillet when the almonds are done.)

Mix the sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Put about 1/4 cup of the mixture into a 9 x 13" baking dish. When the almonds are coated with the honey mixture and are done cooking, transfer them to the 9 x 13" baking dish. Pour the rest of the sugar/salt/cinnamon over the almonds and stir everything up so that all the almonds get coated with the sugar mixture. Transfer the almonds back to the baking sheet and spread them out in one layer again to cool. After they've cooled, break them up a little bit.

Eat them all.

Weiner and Best Bun

After I got married, I bought the "wrong" hot dogs and the "wrong" bacon for many years. Not on purpose. I figured they were all the same and I could buy the one that is on sale. Now we have our favorites and I don't need to call Brian from the grocery store to make sure I'm not buying something gross. (The Rule of Bacon is usually that the most expensive one that never goes on sale is the one that will taste the best.)

Best Dog (if it's not Polish)

Oscar Meyer Bun Length All Beef Franks


Best Bun

Wonder Hot Dog Buns

What do y'all think? Or are you too good for hot dogs? :)

green eggs and ham

Adam was dreaming of having breakfast in green for St. Patrick's Day; green grits, green orange juice, green everything. I had thought about it St. Patrick's Day Eve, but when the morning came, I didn't have the energy. Luckily, I have a very festive husband who happened to be home that morning. He got busy working on the green pancakes, apple juice (no orange around),green butter, and green sprinkles to top everything. I got a good one of the girls and Adam. Somehow, Banks was not captured eating his green feast!