Chocolate Caramels From Epicurious

Just let me make this very clear.... I am not a food blogger, do not enjoy documenting cooking progress nor do I like to rewrite recipes or take pictures of food.

~ Read that above line one more time and soak it all in. ~

I do however enjoy eating, and I know good when I taste it.

I also like to join in on link parties my friends host, and one of my decorating inspirations, Holly over at Down To Earth, is having a holiday baking party I want to be part of.

I have been trying for 10 years to perfect or find a chocolate caramel recipe that is as good as my butter caramel recipe.  Last year I gave yet another recipe a try.

It turned out to be "the one".

The one that is now in the lineup of favorite holiday treats to make year after year.  The one good enough to end the yearly search for a chocolate caramel recipe.

It has the perfect creaminess and a very distinct chocolate flavor.  I found the recipe at Epicurious.  It is a salted caramel recipe that I love, but my family doesn't like the salt on top so I leave it off.

The caramels do look more gourmet with the salt flakes, but I haven't had anyone feel slighted without it.

Look at that hot vat of bubbling cocoa goodness.  Mmmmmmmmm.

The only change I have is to NOT cook it to the temp they call for in the original recipe.  The original recipe calls for cooking to 255* on a candy thermometer.  I find cooking to that temp makes the caramel too hard.  I recommend 252 and no higher for perfect ones, at least in my kitchen.  Cook it right at 252 and when it starts to go above that, turn it off.

Unlike my butter caramels this one is a two step boil process.  A little more work, but after a 10 year search for the perfect tasting chocolate caramels, I'm not messing with a good thing because the outcome is excellent.

I will doubled the batch again this year, without any problem for the original recipe.

I use Ghiradelli 60% bittersweet chocolate baking bars.  I won't use another brand because these give me the taste I was going for.

Yummmm.......  I don't like overly sweet, I want to taste the chocolate not just a sweet something I can't identify.

I gift some of them, but usually my family asks me to hoard these for us.  Not very giving at the giving time of year are they?

Remember to stop in at Down to Earth and link up a holly-day recipe or one of the other hosts; Amy at Atta Girl Says, or Marty from A Stroll Thru Life.

For the full chocolate caramel recipe/tutorial, head over to Epicurious .... those folks don't mind writing out tutorials like I do.  I like to just get right to the best part....... the eating.  And these are excellent eating if you want to indulge.

Stay Tuned, coming soon, December 2nd to be exact......

Linking up the goodies at:
Holiday Baking Party @DownToEarth

Cake Testers From One30One Design

What's a cake tester?  

The human version of a cake tester is probably someone who must have the most amazing job on the planet if they get to taste test cake.  Brawn tells me I'm a "Supertaster" because he saw something on the Discovery Channel and decided his wife met the criteria.

I think I would be a good cake taste tester.

But in this post a cake tester is a beaded bauble of beauty used for testing if baked goods are done, specifically cakes.

Think of a cake tester as a grown up version of a toothpick.  Very grown up.  They are referred to as "kitchen jewelry".

The fancy beads are known as lampwork.  A glass artist twists long glass rods over the flame of a torch, similar to glass blowing.

The beads on the cake testers are solid, not hollow bubbles, and they come in various sizes.  The small beads are all glass as well.

The rod is food grade stainless steel direct from the manufacturer.  That little hook at the top is hand bent and each piece of rod is hand cut.

Sometimes faceted fire agate beads are used for a more earthy natural look.  I give them as a gift to the family holiday meal hostess, with a cookbook for a bridal shower, or tucked in a gift basket.

I have seen some imitations.  Made on cheap wire that bends, a hat pin, or a squared bbq skewer.  Don't fall for their cheaper prices.

One 30 One Design has made over 300 of these things - on Etsy and for fine local shops.  Read the feedback in the Etsy shop.  100% positive.  You don't get that sort of comment love for nothing!

Everyone says the same thing..... that they love their cake tester or the recipient loved it.

They are beaded nice and tight.  Some folks say they are too pretty to use.

I say nonsense, I use mine all the time.

Packaged in a box with shred for easy gift giving.

And it is that time of year.  Gift giving time.

These cake testers are unique, one of a kind gifts.  No one else on the block will have one.  Although the designer would love it if they did!

One thing I know for sure..... the photos don't do them justice.

And because it's that time of year, and because I've got an "in" with the designer

I'm offering a coupon for the readers of Bliss Ranch.  

Buy 2 get free shipping.  

Use coupon code CAKEISBLISS.

Expires December 15th

You can read about the artist and her cake testers at One30oneDesign

or click { here } for her Etsy Shop.

I think she's something pretty special, just like her cake testers.

Dining Room Chairs Post..... again!

One year ago this month I located the perfect chairs on Craigs List for a redo.....

Due to the time of year and being the hostess with the mostess*, two of these birds were purchased the same day as the chairs..... *FYI mostess auto corrects to moistness.

Thanksgiving arrived and the Butterball's were smoked on the grill....

the chairs were sat on as-is, and all was grand, as in grand plans to finish them.

Eventually the dining room was painted.  By now it was 2013.

and a new table was made......

Six chairs were taken apart.

Six chairs were painted (several times with different colors).

Six chairs were distressed, waxed, and buffed.

I wanted to gnaw off my arms so I would never ever have to do this task again.

The seat bottoms were covered with a deep espresso. 

One of them makes a funny noise when anyone slides off it..... I try not to sit on that one when company is here.

And then what happened?  Such a nail bitter this story is huh!

Let me tell you more.....

Two of these rustic-chicken-wire-backed-plate-holder-things were built, stained, hung, waxed and wiped.  Yes in that order.  Brawn doesn't wait around for me to complete my part of the job when he is ready to complete his.

Being the trend setter I am, they were finished with a re-rod plate holder bar.....

Drop cloth was purchased, washed, and cut to size for chair backs.

Round head tacks were left as is, the patina on them was perfect....
(that and there was no way no how I was polishing hundreds of them).

The awesome graphic for the chair backs was ready to go.....

Yes I realized I spelled correspond wrong, and no... I wasn't going to remake the whole little Picmonkey thing to fix it.  If I knew I was going to show the graphic again, well I probably would have.  I'm a good speller, but a bad proof reader.  Thankfully I caught the mostess/moistness thing earlier.

I picked up the transfer paper for the design in May on a drive back from a weekend away, with an emergency stop at Office Depot because I HAD to have that transfer paper before I got home and unpacked. 

Then what the helllllll happened?

Nothing happened, that's what.  Other than a year went by since I started these chairs and five months since I purchased the transfer paper that I'm hoping I can now locate.

Thanksgiving 2013 is about to arrive.  Two new turkeys have been purchased, 20 pounders this year if you want to know.

So with a new Thanksgiving gig to host, the chairs are fix'n to be finished at the ranch.   I'm telling you that in case no one hears from me while I'm knee deep.

I'm going in and I'm not coming out till they are done.

Bathroom Redo Step #1 and Ugly Bathroom Contest

Why is this titled Step #1?  Well knowing how long it takes around here to get a project finished, I thought I better label it so I can keep track. 

Not that I started a dining room redo last year this time or anything.  I do have goals you know.... I intend to finish those dining room chairs before Thanksgiving.  I do, really, after all that would be a great way to celebrate their one year anniversary.

 The boys bathroom, home of the famous mailbox and railroad spike towel holder, is in the midst of a makeover.

Mid-mess

And this bathroom redo better be done this month too.  Funny how bossy I get when it's not a project on my plate.

Even though the bathroom redo is NOT my baby, one of my babies did decide to take it on.  He doesn't read the blog so I'll say it now..... there really wasn't anything the matter with that bathroom before, other than stinky socks and boxers always on the floor.  And towels.  I swear the boys use three towels each time they shower.

I liked the old wall color better.  It was just my usual shade of light beige.  I like beige, alright?  Don't smart off on the other side of that computer screen.  The new color is beige too, just a darker one.  I don't like it as much.

I liked all the old signs hanging on the wall.
I liked two sinks even though only one worked, and I liked two mirrors, just because I thought they looked nice all big and round.

Apparently the boys disagreed.

But I don't use that bathroom.  It's the boys bath and since one son decided it needed a redo and he was willing to do the work and pick out what he wanted, well I just shut up.

Ok, I didn't really shut up, that is one thing I don't know how to do.

So coming soon to a boys bathroom near me is ....

One poured concrete counter top, made by father and son.......

One new vessel sink......

One new Price Pfister totally cool faucet.......

And one mirror.  But what mirror is the question?  I would prefer the round one that was on the wall, but apparently to move it, it has to be smashed, they already moved, I mean smashed, the left one.  When Brawn fastens something to a wall, he intends it to stay.... forever.

And just as a coincidence, National Builder Supply is running an ugly bathroom contest with prizes or a complete bathroom makeover (click on the name to enter).  No I am not entering my bathroom, first of all it's not ugly, remember?

While you are there watch the ever changing list of partners in the box on the right.  Eventually you'll see something that says Bliss Ranch flash in front of you.

If you've got an ugly bathroom, get your photo ready (or if you've got one you like but your family decided to redo it anyway) and enter to win.  You can enter for prizes without having an ugly bathroom, but if you've got one of those load up a photo. 

I'm pretty fortunate .... I don't think any of our bathrooms are ugly or you can bet I'd be entering one for the chance at a makeover.  Contest runs for a month, so find the ugly and embrace it.

Kiss The Cook, or not

You know, the devil?  He comes from down below?

 The evil red dude?  Hell's Kitchen tv show, where they cook?  

Everyone is a chef wannabe?  

No?

I had to explain my costume at the party too.  

Not a good one if it needs an explanation.

But check out that REAL looking kitchen knife.  It's wood.  

Brawn made it for me, because every good chef has a knife.

The devil made me do it.

Fall Ya'll Junkers Unite - Vignette, Pin Board and Link Up

Introducing the Junkers United Fall pin board that is plum full of Autumn ideas.

 If you're stopping in at the Ranch for the first time, I'm Bliss, and pretty darn happy about being part of the Junkers United team.

A few weeks ago this group of talented bloggers who share the same appreciation of junk, each created a new project to kick off our Junkers United Pinterest board and link party (I made a barn board coffee table) and this month we each have a little something to celebrate the Junkers Fall Pinterest board.

And for me.... I really mean that little something part!  I have a small area between two rooms and the stairway that is perfect for putting out a little seasonal decorating.

Click to see the oversize wood candy corn

Last Fall I picked up two big heavy metal toolboxes for free at a garage sale.  The man that forced them on me was wearing a t-shirt with a photo of a Dachshund dog and it said "ask me about my wiener".  He wanted to chat, I wanted to grab the toolboxes and run.

This metal tote is from the inside of one of the toolboxes.  The outside of the box was rusty, but this galvanized part was perfect.

Last Fall I used it on my dresser with gourds, apples and leaves.

This hall-ish area is right outside our bedroom and it hosts a memory wall.  I walk by it several times a day and each time I glance at a photo I remember something different from when my kids were small.

We have owned the vintage oak wash stand for 32 years.  It was one of the first pieces of furniture we purchased, along with an old round claw foot dining room table.

They both came from a man who loved antiques.  Neither he nor the claw foot table are with us anymore.  

This wash stand has stayed in this spot because nothing else fits.  It's a high ceiling, but something big and bulky just doesn't work there.  Two rooms open to this hall and the stairway is to the right.

Another view of the small hall area.
Yes the vacuum is on.  What can I say he loves to clean, and I love the help.

At Junk Bonanza I picked up one of these big corrugated tin letters and tied it to the antique mirror with a piece of creamy white burlap.

And if you've been visiting Bliss Ranch for a while, at the very bottom of the blog you have seen this saying.  It proudly watches over the family photos and in a nutshell sums up my thoughts about life.

The leaves are falling rapidly here, so I invite you to go get the leaves knocked off your tree at our Junkers United Fall Pinterest Board.  So many fun ideas for reusing and repurposing items that you will want to duplicate them all!

Meet the Pinning Team.
If you are not familiar with these ladies,
march your fingers right on over to their blogs after you link up.

Stop in at each of these blogs to see what these ladies have created for Fall.  

Each of them provide me with inspiration, it's crazy how their minds work.  Crazy good!

 

Susan - Homeroad

Breida / Breida with a B

Becky / Beyond The Picket Fence

Laurel / Chipping With Charm

Carlene / Organized Clutter

Angie / Knick of Time
Kari Anne from Thistlewood Farms 
Gina, The Shabby Creek Cottage 

Bliss / Bliss Ranch

And the Leader of the Pack....

Donna / Funky Junk Interiors

And now..... we all want to see what YOU create for Fall too 

So link up your junk!

Link your own favorite FALL junk projects and 
we'll pin our favs into the Junker's United pin board!

Inlinkz - it is live now until next June 2014.