Chewy Caramel Brownies (Warning: Highly Addictive)

I made these for Mom and Dad's farewell. The next weekend I was in town and made them again. We served them with bananas, vanilla ice cream, Grandma's chocolate sauce, homemade caramel sauce, whipped cream and toppings. They were more delicious than I had remembered.

25 - 40 caramels, unwrapped

1/3 cup evaporated milk

Combine in saucepan and heat on low until caramels are melted. Let cool.

1 german chocolate cake mix (not Duncan Hines)

1/3 cup evaporated milk

3/4 cup melted butter or margarine

1 cup chopped nuts (optional- I never add nuts but if you do-go for it)

Combine in mixing bowl. spread half mixture in ungreased 9 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 6 minutes. Spread caramel mixture over baked cake mixture.

1 package milk chocolate chips

Sprinkle on top of carmel mixture. (Sometimes I think a whole package is a little much but according to your desire.) Drop reserved cake batter by spoonfuls onto brownies. Bake 20 minutes at 305 degrees.

Cool completely. Enjoy!

Oven Caramel Corn

So the cheep movie house in Boise has some yummy caramel popcorn, you know the hard crunchy kind. I almost love going there more for the popcorn than the discounted movie. I love it so much that on one of my birthdays Kendra went to there and bought it for me. Well when I was in New Jersey, Lori took me to the boardwalk and yes Johnson's popcorn caught my attention. Lori bought some and we all gobbled it up. We went back and bought more. Well needless to say I have been thinking about it since. I decided that I needed to figure out how to make it. I found a great recipe from Paula Deen on the second try. Here it is:

7 to 8 quarts popped popcorn

1 cup light brown sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 tsp. maple-flavored pancake syrup

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Spray rimmed cookie sheets with cooking spray.

Place the popcorn and your choice of nuts or seeds into a very large bowl. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, salt, syrups and vanilla. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and continue boiling for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and add the baking soda. The mixture will bubble up. Stir vigorously until the mixture is smooth.

Pour the hot syrup over the popcorn mix. Stir until the popcorn is coated.

Spread the coated popcorn in the prepared pans. Bake for 1 hour, stirring several times.

Remove the popcorn from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Store in large, airtight plastic containers.

Warning: It's highly addictive.

Love you all and hope you are having a great holiday season!

Cinnamon Roll Wreaths

Lori this is what I came up with after lots of thinking of memories in the past:  Cinnamon roll wreaths.  This one is cute or maybe:

or maybe a cinnamon roll Christmas tree

I guess I have fond memories of Dr. Haymore's office, or maybe that's who I think it was, sending the Christmas tree wreath to Dad's office.  I loved it.  The holly berries were red hots, not marachino (sp?) cherries.  I hope this helps. luv u all, Emily

Getting Around to It and An Answer to Lori's Question

I finally signed up. Since I helped Lori set this up and was on vacation when I did so, I never officially signed up until today. I love all the pictures/posts so far.

We also got around to raking the backyard. It is funny that I even have to rake it since there isn't even one tree or bush in the yard but we are grateful for the neighbors tree that provided some shade for us on our summer morning trampoline adventures.

Here are the kids in the leaves:

So yet on my 'To Do' list is neighbor gifts. I am actually copying Erin and her idea of making sleigh kits for my neighbors and friends. This is a picture of the one Erin made for our family last year. I think families will love it or at least I hope. Wether or not this is something that families in New Jersey would love or not I can't help you out with that, but people in Fruitland will dig it. I personally would love a jug of hot cocoa and I have tried homemade marshmallows and they are tasty but I haven't made them myself. I think that sounds like a great and tasty idea.

What to do? What to do?

Well my beautiful sisters and parents...as this holiday season creeps up my heart is full, thinking of how all of you have created for me what Christmas is. I spend each day trying to recreate the excitement, the fun, the joy that I seemed to feel so deeply as a girl. My kids just aren't as talented as my young sisters were, who seemed to pick up on my choreography so beautifully and really capture the essence of the creative Christmas spirit I had ;). Our family Christmas dance isn't going so well this year. I'll be sure to post it when it is pieced together.

Now for the matter at hand. I am looking to be inspired by you once again. It stinks to be thousands of miles away, and yet sometimes it has it's perks. Well I can only think of one, but it is this...your neighbors are not my neighbors, your friends are not my friends, so can you tell me what you are doing for your friends and neighbors for Christmas so that I can copy your ideas? I need something good. I have just come onto the scene. Most people don't have an impression of me and if they do it is not a great one. So I would love to erase any images in their mind of me looking into their windows as they drive up in their driveway, by gifting them a beautiful Christmas something that delights them. ;)

I have only come up with one idea. It has to do with the Starbuck Hot Cocoa mix that is sold at Costco. I thought I might give them a container and some of Martha's homemade marshmallows.

Here is the recipe: http://www.marthastewart.com/333971/homemade-marshmallows

Or these are really cute: http://www.marthastewart.com/269738/marshmallow-snowflakes-gift

My problem is I don't think people really drink cocoa here. Maybe they would if they had a huge tin in their cupboard.

Anyway, I'm just looking to see if any of you have any cute ideas up your sleeves. Can't wait to hear what you have got.

I love you as much as the sucker tree, watching the candle melt down to the next notch each night at dinner, pretzels dipped in white chocolate and getting to the chocolate kiss in those something blossoms that Mom always made at Christmas time.

Lori

Favorite Picts from Thanksgiving!!!

 My family couldn't get enough of little Ollie.  She was patient with us too!

 
 The "kids" Thanksgiving table. Noah is doing a handstand on the couch.

 I took this photo too late, Mom and Dad were already back for seconds, just kidding!

 Playing Minute to Win It was a blast!  The kids had so much fun, and it was entertaining for the adults too!

The boys dressing up like girls was definately a highlight.  How beautiful they all look! 
So those were some fun highlights from Thanksgiving!  Here's to an amazing Christmas too!  Emily

I've Got It Figured Out!

The title of this blog explains two things. First, I think I've got this blog thing figured out! I am so excited about it and hope that we use it lots because I love looking at my other sisters blogs! Second, I've figured out that my life right now can be summarized by this picture I've taken. I have a beautiful life...but it is messy with lots of chaos and cars (both with me driving them and Joseph pushing them around every square inch of this home)! Thank you Lori and Cara for getting this going. I hope we use it lots! Love you, AMY