.::still blinking::.

I was tagged. And now you are too. If I didn’t tag you and you want to participate. I tag you as well.

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago…
1.) Dating my first boyfriend.
2.) Camp outs in the living room of Davis 302. I love you girls.
3.) Very little studying.
4.) Hanging in the library a lot, but not studying.
5.) Learning to be independent.

5 Things on my “To-Do” list today…
1.) Vacuum
2.) Deposit my economic stimulus check. Yes, I JUST got my tax return.
3.) Sew a tree skirt.
4.) Fold the mountain of laundry in the hall.
5.) Shave.

5 Snacks I enjoy…
1.) Almonds
2.) Tea with small amounts of milk
3.) Sushi
4.) Fruit
5.) Celery

5 Things I’d do if I were a Millionaire…
1.) Pay off debt + mortgage.
2.) Buy a house for my mom or have her be my nanny and travel with me.
3.) Spend months of the year living else where. Italy. Japan. South Central Panguitch. Ely.
4.) Buy a highlander.
5.) Get more education.

5 Places I’ve Lived…
1.) Logan.
2.) South Jordan.
3.) Bryce Canyon.
4.) Herriman.
5.) JJ’s grandparents house.

5 Jobs I’ve Had
1.) Caterer.
2.) Grocery Checker.
3.) Graphic Artist/Marketer.
4.) Cow Girl. I swear. I should put some pictures up here.
5.) Personal Escort. I have only ever had one client.

5 People I tag
1.) Mary, she likes her privacy
2.) Boogie the dog
3.) Aubrey Jeppson, mother of Macie
4.) Katrina
5.) Annie
6.) Tiffany

Here is a recipe I get asked about quite a bit. It is for caramels that I make once and year and usually share with others at Christmas time. They take three hours to make that that is not including cooling, cutting and wrapping. So you really have to be serious about this. Also, this is a Martha Stewart recipe, she never does things the easy way.

If you received some of these last year I substituted light corn syrup for some kind of brown rice syrup, it is an earthy product and made them much less sweet, but a lot more rich. I think I was going to try half corn syrup this year and half rice syrup. Also, heavy cream is not terribly expensive at Costco and I think you have a little left over to drink. You know JJ is standing here with his face on the spout of the cream waiting for me to get finished.

Golden Caramels
4 cup heavy cream
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
4 cup light corn syrup
4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 16 peices
1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1- Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spry. In a 2-quart saucepan, combine cream and sweetened condensed milk; set aside.
2- In a large saucepan (really large), combine corn syrup, 1 cup of water, sugar and salt. Clip on a candy thermometer. Over high heat, cook until sugar is dissolved, stirring with a wooden spoon, 8-12 minutes. Brush down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to remove sugar crystals
3- Stop stirring, reduce heat to medium, and bring to a boil. Cook without stirring until temperature reaches 250 degrees (45-60 minutes). Meanwhile, cook cream mixture over low heat until it is just warm. Do not boil. When sugar reaches 250 degrees, slowly stir in butter and warmed cream mixture, keeping mixture boiling at all times. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until thermometer reaches 244 degrees, 55-75 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Immediately pour into prepared pan without scraping pot. Let stand uncovered at room temperature for 24 hours without moving.
4- To cut, spray large cutting board with vegetable oil. Unmold caramels and cut. Wrap in cellophane or waxed paper.

Yum. If you want me to send you a few of these I totally will. Comment and leave your address and I will send you a couple. You will think you have died. If you live by me and are my friend in real life, not fake internet life, you will probably get some anyway. If you are my friend in internet standard time, comment and I will send you some.

Love,
Makayla