Showing appreciation!

 It's that time of the year...

Time to show appreciation to teachers and people who have influenced our lives over the past year!   

This year I was going to try a variation on my Gourmet Apples as I had seen on Pinterest people that had cut apples into slices and then dipped them in caramel. However, that did NOT work at all.

 SO, I just did my usual... 

Fuji Apples were on sale for .59 a pound
and so I was able to purchase 12 apples for $2.51.

Made up a batch of my caramels,

dipped the apples...

topped them in with crushed M&M's...

and then drizzled with some melted chocolate.

 After they have cooled, 
put them in a cellophane bag...

attach a note and or bow 
 (along with a handwritten appreciation letter)

and you're ready to deliver yummyness! 

Gourmet Caramel Apples

First clean apples well....then stick a bamboo stick in the top for easy dipping)

Crush up Peanut M&M's, or whatever other treats you would like to top your apples with

(Caramel recipe)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups sugar

¼ tsp salt

1-1/2 cup Karo Syrup

1 cup butter

1-2 tsp. real vanillla

Cook first 5 ingredients to soft ball (235 degrees) stirring occasionally so as not to burn.

Stir in vanilla.

Take apples and dip in the caramel until coated well...

Sprinkle on toppings

and let cool on metal or plastic pans.

After they have cooled slightly,  

drizzle on melted chocolate
AND then pull out bamboo sticks

Let completely cool overnight

Wrap up however you would like and share with teachers, friends, or whomever you would like!

Even the most unlikely things can be beautiful...

 I forget how busy this time of the year is...

I don't know how I survived this time of year being a working mom. 

It just feels like we are running from one event to the next.

Lots of things to be blogged about....

but haven't had the time to go through photos and get my thoughts together, so I thought I'd do a quick post today of some photos I took of dandelions in the unfinished section of our back yard.  

While Tracy was spraying them with Round-up I was one step ahead of him photographing them.  

Dandelions will forever remind of the sweetness of little kids, who think they are the prettiest flowers ever when they bring you a handful of them to brighten your day!!   

I had one of those moments again this past weekend! 

 

 

“The miracles of nature do not seem miracles 

because they are so common. 

If no one had ever seen a flower, 

even a dandelion would be 

the most startling event in the world.”