Holiday Recipe Week: Merry Meringues

It is day two of Holiday Recipe Week, and today I'm sharing a recipe that has become a recent holiday tradition.  

It has been a little over six years since I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease.  I was soon thrown into the world of gluten free food, and was forced to learn how to cook new foods.  I had never made meringues in my life, but soon found that they were a great gluten free dessert.  They are naturally gluten free, and naturally delicious. 

During my first year of diagnosis I stumbled upon this recipe for Merry Meringues (Kraft Foods).  They have now become a holiday staple.  I often bring this to holiday parties, and they are quickly devoured (by all, not just me).  The light flavor and texture of these meringues is always welcomed, when overwhelmed by rich holiday foods.

Holiday Recipe Week: Barely Stir Christmas Caramels

Oh how I love the Christmas Season.  I love almost everything about it: the reason, the decorations, the music, and most definitely the delicious food.  I hope that you'll join with me this week, and celebrate the season by sharing your favorite holiday recipes.  You can find the Holiday Recipe link party here.  It will be open all week long, and I'll leave the link party posted until after New Year's.

I thought that I'd start out the food festivities by sharing some of my favorite Christmas Candies.  In our house fudge, toffee, and caramels were always standard Christmas candies.  I have always had a personal preference for homemade caramels.  They are just delicious.  I married into the right family, because every holiday season my Mother-In Law makes up a big pan of caramels that we all enjoy.

The difficulty in making caramels is having the patience to stir the pan for the recommended amount of time.  Well, if you don't know if your arms can handle 30 minutes of constant stirring, then I have the recipe for you.

This recipe is extremely easy to make, and I've had great success with it.  It will turn out a delicious pan of chewy caramels. It also tastes delicious with toasted almonds or pecans, but I'll stick with the basic recipe.

Barely Stir Christmas Caramels

Ingredients

1/4 Cup butter, plus enough to butter the pan

2 cups sugar

1 Cup light corn syrup
1/4 tsp salt

1 Cup whipping or heavy cream

1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract


Optional: 1 cup chopped and toasted pecans or almonds

1.) Prepare and 8 inch square pan, by lining it with aluminum foil and buttering all sides.

2.) In a heavy sauce pan, combine the butter, corn syrup, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat.  Stir constantly. When it begins boiling, reduce heat to medium low, and gently boil for 4 minutes without stirring.

3) Remove the saucepan from the heat. Slowly stir in heavy cream. Return saucepan to heat.  Continue cooking on medium low heat, without stirring,  until mixture reaches firm ball stage (or 245 degrees on a candy thermometer). Remove the saucepan from heat, and stir in vanilla (and nuts if desired).

4.) Pour caramel mixture into prepared pan.  Avoid scraping the sides of the pan.  Allow the caramels to cool completely (2+ hours).  Remove the caramels from the pan, cut into squares, and wrap in waxed paper.

5.) Enjoy!

*I love to sprinkle set caramels with sea salt for a bit of flavor contrast.

Makes approximately 4 dozen caramels

Link up your favorite holiday recipes here.  I'll be linking up here as well.

I'll be back soon with additional holiday candy and treat recipes. 

Good Food, Guest Bloggers, and a Giveaway

I hate to interrupt all of the Hip for the Holidays fun, but I wanted to fill you in on a couple of things.  

First off, I have really enjoyed celebrating holiday apparel, but sadly I am way behind on my crafted Christmas gift list.  I need a bit of down time to start (and finish) some projects before the big day.  I have decided to take a week off of sewing project posts, and share some of my favorite Holiday treats.  I know that all of you have certain foods, baked goods, and treats that put you in the Holiday spirit.  I thought that it would be appropriate to celebrate, and share, some of my favorite foods with you.  I'd love to know what your favorite recipes and treats are as well, and will be opening up a recipe link party come Monday.  So think of your favorite holiday treats, whip up a batch, post them on your blog, link them to my party, and then share them with your neighbors.

If there is anyone that is interested in taking a day to share their recipe on a guest post, please email me.  I have several of my own recipes that I'd love to share, but I'd be more than happy to have you participate as a guest blogger.

 Bella, from Bella Before and After, is celebrating her 100th follower with a huge giveaway celebration. There are several shops that are offering giveaway items, and my little etsy shop is one of them.  You can enter to win an 8x10 print from my shop, or one of the other fantastic prizes.  Hop on over to her blog and show her some love.