More Christmas Ideas!
Okay, you all know about my love affair with sea salt. You also should be aware of my addiction to sweet and salty together. When I was growing up, PayDay Candy Bars were my favorite. It just seems natural to me to combine salt with brown sugar and butter. Boy, I’m really thinking about a PayDay!
In the past, I’ve given you my recipe for Chocolate Shortbread Cookies with Sea Salt, so today I want to share a fairly new recipe. It may be a recent addition to my collection, but it has quickly become a favorite. I wish I knew where I got it, but all I know, it has been within the last year. Hope you enjoy them.
Okay, you all know about my love affair with sea salt. You also should be aware of my addiction to sweet and salty together. When I was growing up, PayDay Candy Bars were my favorite. It just seems natural to me to combine salt with brown sugar and butter. Boy, I’m really thinking about a PayDay!
In the past, I’ve given you my recipe for Chocolate Shortbread Cookies with Sea Salt, so today I want to share a fairly new recipe. It may be a recent addition to my collection, but it has quickly become a favorite. I wish I knew where I got it, but all I know, it has been within the last year. Hope you enjoy them.
Salted Caramel Bars
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg yolk
1 2/3 cups flour, all-purpose
caramel topping:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
6 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x9" pan with foil or parchment, allowing edges to hang over opposite sides.
In a bowl, stir together the butter, sugar and salt. Whisk in egg yolk, then stir in flour. Transfer dough to pan and press the mixture evenly into the bottom, building up edges slightly. Prick dough all over with a fork, then freeze 5 to 7 minutes until firm. Bake until light brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
Prepare topping and pour evenly over shortbread; cool in pan at least 2 hours. Carefully lift bars from pan using parchment and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into squares and top with sea salt.
Caramel topping directions: In a small heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, combine 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 6 tablespoons light corn syrup, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons heavy cream; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Once the mixture bubbles, stir constantly until thickened, 5 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Pour on top of cooled shortbread.
Makes 36 1 1/2" squares.
I suppose you could sprinkle some toasted nuts over the top, maybe cashews? Me? I just want the sea salt.
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg yolk
1 2/3 cups flour, all-purpose
caramel topping:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
6 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x9" pan with foil or parchment, allowing edges to hang over opposite sides.
In a bowl, stir together the butter, sugar and salt. Whisk in egg yolk, then stir in flour. Transfer dough to pan and press the mixture evenly into the bottom, building up edges slightly. Prick dough all over with a fork, then freeze 5 to 7 minutes until firm. Bake until light brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
Prepare topping and pour evenly over shortbread; cool in pan at least 2 hours. Carefully lift bars from pan using parchment and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into squares and top with sea salt.
Caramel topping directions: In a small heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, combine 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 6 tablespoons light corn syrup, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons heavy cream; cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil. Once the mixture bubbles, stir constantly until thickened, 5 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Pour on top of cooled shortbread.
Makes 36 1 1/2" squares.
I suppose you could sprinkle some toasted nuts over the top, maybe cashews? Me? I just want the sea salt.
My family has a long tradition of celebrating Christmas Eve at Tom and Vicki’s house. There are anywhere from 25 to 40 us, depending on which out-of-town relatives come for the holiday. My brother and sister-in-law took over the duties of hosts when our parents decided the whole thing was a bit too much for them. Tom and Vicki used to do Beef Stew and Biscuits, now we dine on Lasagna. They make our celebration such a grand event!
The highlight of the evening is always our Chinese gift exchange, which has absolutely nothing to do with China or the Chinese; our apologies! A better name would be "The Gift War" or maybe "Cut Throat Gift Exchange", because it normally turns cut throat over one or two of the gifts! You will find much plotting.... cousin against cousin, daughter against mother, brother against sister! We have a $25.00 limit on these gifts and you would be amazed at the originality. Everyone draws a number and then all hell breaks loose! It would be very boring if each of us chose a wrapped gift from the pile according to our number, and that was the end of it. What makes it fun is the taking of someone else’s gift! It is a wonderful evening and brings such laughter and joy! So far, after all these years, no name calling (well, maybe occasionally) but certainly no fist fights! There was a near war over adult sized slippers from the Disney Store that looked like the head of Goofy with big floppy black ears. They were a big hit!
The highlight of the evening is always our Chinese gift exchange, which has absolutely nothing to do with China or the Chinese; our apologies! A better name would be "The Gift War" or maybe "Cut Throat Gift Exchange", because it normally turns cut throat over one or two of the gifts! You will find much plotting.... cousin against cousin, daughter against mother, brother against sister! We have a $25.00 limit on these gifts and you would be amazed at the originality. Everyone draws a number and then all hell breaks loose! It would be very boring if each of us chose a wrapped gift from the pile according to our number, and that was the end of it. What makes it fun is the taking of someone else’s gift! It is a wonderful evening and brings such laughter and joy! So far, after all these years, no name calling (well, maybe occasionally) but certainly no fist fights! There was a near war over adult sized slippers from the Disney Store that looked like the head of Goofy with big floppy black ears. They were a big hit!
If you have never participated in this type of gift exchange, I recommend it highly. It is definitely Christmas Eve for my family! We don't go home with "just what we've always wanted" gift wise, but we all, young and old, take away wonderful Christmas memories. Isn't that what it is all about?
To find out how to have your very own wild and crazy gift exchange, simply Google "Chinese Gift Exchange"....the rules are simple! Have fun!
No comments:
Post a Comment