Signed, sealed, delivered

I've always loved getting mail. There is nothing quite like getting an actual piece of mail. I decided to send a few select people care packages! The first part I think is the hardest: what to put IN the care packages. Chris helped me out a lot, and we finally decided on: apple cider caramels (I posted about these back in November... Find the recipe here), homemade snickers (recipe posted below), fruity pebble rice Krispy treats (definitely the easiest and maybe the most delicious in my opinion), and magic bars (no, these bars are not actually "magic").



Apple cider caramels.  They. Are. Like. Crack.  They are SO good.  The only problem with these is that you really do need a cooking thermomitor.  The recipe says that you can do it without, but I imagine it would be pretty hard.  Another tip is that the better the cider the better the caramels are going to be.  So they are particularly great after a trip to an apple orchard or a farmers market in the fall because the ciders are going to be fresh and more tasty than just using the cider you find in a grocery store.  You can find the recipe here.





Homemade snickers.  I can't find the place where I found this original recipe, so I typed out the instructions.  These take a while, but the reward is delicious.  The other good thing is that the timing can be flexible.  You can do a layer and leave it in the refrigerator for a few hours and come back to them.
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• 24 ounces chocolate candy coating (chocolate chips-can be dark or milk)
• 1/2 stick (2 oz) butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup evaporated milk
• 1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow fluff
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup peanut butter, creamy or chunky
• 14 oz soft caramels, unwrapped
• 1.5 cups roasted, salted peanuts

Line a 9x13 pan with aluminum foil

Melt the candy coating and spread a very thin layer on the foil (only use about 1/2 cup total.)

Refrigerate the pan to set the coating while you prepare the rest of the filling. The rest of melted coating can stay at room temperature until you're ready to use it again.

In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, granulated sugar, and evaporated milk.

Place the pan over medium-high heat and stir frequently until the butter and sugar dissolves. Make sure the peanut butter, marshmallow creme, and vanilla extract are measured out and are nearby, so you can grab them as soon as you need them.

Bring the pot to a boil, and boil it for four minutes, stirring constantly to keep it from scorching. It should go from light and liquidy to darker and more syrupy.

After four minutes, immediately remove the pan from the heat and stir in the peanut butter, marshmallow creme, and vanilla extract.

Stir it in quickly, before the sugar syrup starts to harden and crystallize. Once it's mixed in it should be a light beige and fluffy.

Spread the peanut nougat on top of the chocolate layer in the pan, and spread it into a smooth, even layer.

Refrigerate the pan to cool the nougat down while you prepare the caramel layer.

Place the unwrapped soft caramels in a pot, turn on high heat, when caramels start to melt, turn heat down.  Stir constantly in order not to burn the caramel.  Add milk or cream or water to help loosen up the caramel.

(You can also microwave the caramel- add some milk or cream or water…microwave on 30 second increments stirring each time until the caramel is melted)

Add the peanuts and stir in so that they are completely covered in caramel.

Spread caramel layer on top of the nougat layer (wet your hands cause its super sticky and hard to deal with).

Place the whole pan into the refrigerator for around 45 mins…or until caramel layer is hardened (but not too hard or else it gets too hard to cut)

Take the pan out, and remove the aluminum foil (using it as handles) so the bars are layed out on the table, cut the bars into desired sizes, shapes, ect.

If the candy coating has hardened, microwave or heat it back up, using a fork, stick it in the side of the candy bar and dip the bar in the chocolate coating covering it completely.  Repeat with all of the bars. 

Put them in the refrigerator and let them set.

Fruity pebble rice Krispies.  Essentially they are rice Krispy treats only with fruity pebbles.  You can use any cereal really, but with the bigger ones you have to make balls (heh).  They are really quick and easy and require very few ingredients.

Ingredients:
Fruity pebbles
1 bag marshmallows
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:
Grease glass or nonstick (even if its non stick you should still grease it because it will make it easier for you in the long run) pan with butter
Melt 3 tablespoons butter in medium large pot
Add marshmallows and stir frequently on medium heat until marshmallows are melted
Remove from heat and keep stirring
Add vanilla and stir
Add cereal and mix completely
Pour into greased pan and wait several minutes
Push down into the pan
Let cool and cut into squares


Magic bars.  I did a post about these a while back.  They are pretty great, and you can get creative with them depending on what you like.  You can do coconut shavings, any kinds of nuts or different kinds of chocolate.  You can find the recipe here.

Anyway, I love care packages.  It gives you an opportunity to make a bunch of different things, and who doesn't like getting mail!