Caramel Apples

Three bags of caramel bits covered 15 large granny smith apples

Apples
Sticks
Caramel Bits
Water
Parchment Paper

Toppings:

White Chocolate Melts
Chocolate Melts
Toffee bits
Sprinkles
mini chocolate chips
mini m&m's

I used organic apples (hoping there would be less wax to have to wash off). I soaked the apples in cool water with baking soda for 15 minutes to remove any wax and clean them. The caramel will stick better with cold clean apples. I refrigerated the apples overnight.

Insert small skewer type sticks into the center of the apples when ready to dip and decorate.

Melt caramel bits according to package directions. When caramel is melted, tip bowl or pot forward so all the caramel pools together. Rotate the apple into the caramel, coating it.

Place coated apples on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Decorate as desired.

If you want to melt chocolate and coat or drizzle on top of the caramel, wait until caramel is set. Place apples in the fridge until the caramel is hard and hot melted chocolate will stick better.

Vanilla Buttercream Cupcakes

My kids LOVED this frosting. I don't like straight buttercream, so the addition of cream cheese helps with the taste. One batch only made 12 large cupcakes, so double if you need more. 

Recipe Found HERE

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 for light, aluminum or silicone muffin pans or 325 for dark, nonstick muffin pans. Line about 16-24 muffin cups with liners and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix in eggs and egg yolk one at a time and then mix in the vanilla. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Combine.

Add 1/4 cup of the buttermilk. Mix. Add another 1/3 of the dry ingredients. Mix. Add the final 1/4 cup of the buttermilk. Mix and then add the final 1/3 of the dry ingredients. Mix until combined and the batter is smooth.

Spoon out batter into lined cupcake pan, filling only halfway or just barely over halfway. Bake for about 15-18 minutes (depending on the heat of your oven based on the type of muffin pan you have), until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a cupcake comes out with moist crumbs. Don’t overbake!

Remove the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.


VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

½ cup (1 stick, 8 tablespoons) butter, softened to room temperature
3 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
16 ounces powdered sugar (about 3 ½ cups)
¼ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the frosting: 

In a large bowl using a handheld mixer or the bowl of an electric stand mixer, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until it is light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Mix in the vanilla. Add the powdered sugar gradually and mix in fully after each addition. Cream at low speed until well blended and creamy. Pour in the heavy cream and whip until the frosting is light and fluffy.

Thai Pumpkin Soup

Recipe Found HERE

3 Tablespoons canola oil
1 small white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1 stalk of lemongrass, bruised
3 Tablespoons Thai red curry paste
One 15-ounce can pure pumpkin puree
2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (I used chicken and it was also good)
Kosher salt
One 14-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
2 Tablespoons lime juice
Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)
Thinly sliced Fresno chile, for garnish (optional)

In a large pot, heat the oil over moderate heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes.

Add the garlic, ginger, lemongrass and curry paste and cook for 3 minutes.

Add the pumpkin puree and broth, stirring to incorporate, then season with salt, and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

Stir in the coconut milk and lime juice and let cool for 10 minutes.

Transfer the soup to a blender (or use an immersion blender in the pot) and puree until smooth. If needed, add additional water or broth to reach the desired consistency. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Serve warm and garnish with fresh cilantro and thinly sliced Fresno chiles.