Back to Square One. . .

We were so hopeful that this would be the one.  The hubbs had two face to face interviews this week with this company and we were so sure an offer would follow.  Sadly, he got the we are going a different direction phone call.  Back to square one. 
The hubbs took Sprat to a concert last night as an early birthday present.  Big T and I went for some back to school shopping.  I was very down after finding out that my very sweet husband had been dumped on again.  At about 9:30 last night I asked my 13 year old if he wanted to go get doughnuts.   He of course agreed, what little boy would turn down doughnuts.  He asked me on the way what was wrong.  I told him nothing was wrong, mommy just wants a doughnut.  I remember making runs for milkshakes or pizza or whatever I had a craving for when the hubbs and I were first married and when I was pregnant.  

I remember one weekend when the hubbs and I were first married I had a craving for crab legs and we packed up and drove to the beach for the night.   Those crab legs were the best I had ever eaten.  I miss the days of being able to just pack up and go.  We are so tied to our schedules these days and it has taken some of the fun out of things.  Maybe this is why the Lord has put us in this position, to reclaim some of that spontaneity that we use to have.   I do believe we have become, if you will pardon the expression, old farts.   I feel like I am still spontaneous and maybe I can interject some of that old feeling back in our family.    

Sugar Cravings. . .

Over the weekend I had a craving for something sweet and decided I would make something.  I went to my trusty Pinterest and found a recipe for homemade Twix bars.  Yes, I made them.  They are not as easy to make as the recipe sounds.  As par for the course and my baking, things did not go just right.

This is the shortbread layer, it did not do exactly as it should have.  I need more work on this part.

This is the homemade caramel and it was very good.

This is the caramel spread over the shortbread.

This is the finished product.  The shortbread did not set up just right but it was good.  I need more practice with this one.  

The Shortbread 

1 1/4 cup  all-purpose flour 

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2/3 cup butter softened

Caramel

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

2 Tbsp corn syrup

Chocolate

2 cups chocolate chips

1 tsp vegetable oil

For the shortbread you combine your dry ingredients and then cut your butter into the dry.   It will form a crumb mixture.  Then you press it into a 9X9 pan and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  Remove and allow to cool.

The Caramel, add butter to a medium sauce pan and melt over medium heat.    Stir in your brown sugar to dissolve.  Add corn syrup and SC milk then bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and keep stirring for 2 minutes.  When it starts to thicken pour over your shortbread.  Allow to cool.

Once your caramel has cooled mix your chocolate and oil.  This recipe called to do this in the microwave but all of my microwave safe glass dishes were dirty so I did mine on the stove in a sauce pan and it did just fine.   Let your chocolate cool just a bit before pouring over your caramel and shortbread.  I used coconut oil instead of vegetable oil and it took my chocolate a little longer to set up.  

My kids loved this and it did not matter one bit to them that the shortbread did not stick together.  

I have been making meatballs this morning so stay tuned to hear about that tomorrow.