Tasty Tuesday's

Chocolate Caramel Apples

Servings: 8

 

Take caramel apples to new heights with these dark chocolate-dipped, pecan-studded delights. You'll never go back to plain old caramel apples again. Be sure to let the caramel firm up before dipping the apples in the chocolate glaze. Serve this decadent treat at Halloween parties or give them away as a stunning holiday gift. Using nice, tart apples such as Granny Smith will give the apples a sophisticated slant that will appeal to grown up tastes.

Igredients

• 2 14-ounce packages vanilla caramels, unwrapped
• 2 tablespoons water
• 8 to 10 medium apples
• 8 to 10 wooden craft sticks
• 2-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate pieces (15 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon shortening
• 1-1/2 cups chopped pecans, toasted, and/or coarsely chopped peanuts

Directions

1. Butter a piece of foil; place on a baking sheet. Set aside. In a medium saucepan combine caramels and water. Cook over medium-low heat until caramels are melted and smooth, stirring frequently. Turn heat to low.
2. Wash and dry apples. Insert stick into stem end of each apple. Dip apples into hot caramel mixture, spooning caramel over apples to coat entirely. Allow excess caramel to drip off. Place on prepared foil; let stand about 30 minutes or until firm.
3. In a small saucepan melt chocolate pieces and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly. Dip bottom halves of apples in chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. Sprinkle with nuts. Place on a piece of unbuttered foil or waxed paper set on a baking sheet. Let stand about 30 minutes or until set. Makes 8 to 10 servings.
4. Although most apple varieties will work for Chocolate Caramel Apples, youngsters may prefer sweeter ones, such as Gala, Delicious, or Crispin. Many adults, however, will delight in the contrast of sweet caramel with tart apples, such as Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Jonathan

Currently Reading:

'Destined for an Early Grave' by Jeaniene Frost



Currently Listening To:

'Just a Dream' by Nelly

Picture Of The Day:

Quote Of The Day:

"Life happened because I turned the pages." ~Alberto Manguel

Thrilling Thursdays

Need a dose of thrill in your life? Well, since it is getting closer to Halloween, there’s a thrilling and scary place I’d like to tell ya about! So as I’ve mention before I live in Pennsylvania and there is a lovely little place called the Eastern State Penitentiary on

Fairmount Avenue

in Philadelphia. The Eastern State Penitentiary is and old prison that was opened in 1829 and held some 75,000 inmates including the gangster Al Capone. In 1971 the penitentiary was closed and in 1994 it was opened as a historical site. Today you can visit the Eastern State Penitentiary and tour the prison during the day. BUT around Halloween time ‘Terror Behind the Walls’ opens up at this lovely prison for all as a massive haunted house. So if you are looking for a thrill I highly recommend you visit the Eastern State Penitentiary! For more information visit their website by clicking HERE.     

Currently Reading: At Graves End by Jeaniene Frost

Currently Listening To:
Money by Pink Floyd

Picture Of The Day:

Quote Of The Day:
"Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky.
My pile of books
Are a mile high.
How I love them!
How I need them!
I'll have a long beard
By the time I read them."
~ Arnold Lobel

Matched

Last night I finished the beautiful book ‘Matched’ by Ally Condie. Cassia lives in a controlled and safe world, or at least that’s what she thinks until after her Matching ceremony. The Society chooses everything for you; your food, your job, your spouse…and no one questions it. This system is created for a perfect life, a happy life, a safe life. But, when Cassia sees Ky Markham's face on her screen instead of her existent match, Xander; she begins to question the world she lives in. Cassia is taken on an exciting journey in ‘Matched’ and I for one can’t wait until the sequel! This book shows us what it means to follow your heart; no matter who’s telling you its wrong. Mrs. Condie makes you think about what our lives could really turn into…is this possible? Is this what we will become?-- An exceptional read! I recommended this book to anyone in hopes that it will become one of your favorite books, I know its become one of mine.   

Currently Listening To:
Bitter Heart by Zee Avi

Picture Of The Day:

Quote Of The Day:
"Most books, like their authors, are born to die; of only a few books can it be said that death has no dominion over them; they live, and their influence lives forever." ~J. Swartz

Tasty Tuesday's

Cheese-&-Spinach-Stuffed Portobellos

4 servings

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 large portobello mushroom caps
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 cup finely chopped fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped kalamata olives
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 3/4 cup prepared marinara sauce

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Place mushroom caps, gill-side up, on the prepared pan. Sprinkle with salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Roast until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, mash ricotta, spinach, 1/4 cup Parmesan, olives, Italian seasoning and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Place marinara sauce in a small bowl, cover and microwave on High until hot, 30 seconds to 1 1/2 minutes.
4. When the mushrooms are tender, carefully pour out any liquid accumulated in the caps. Return the caps to the pan gill-side up. Spread 1 tablespoon marinara into each cap; cover the remaining sauce to keep warm. Mound a generous 1/3 cup ricotta filling into each cap and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan. Bake until hot, about 10 minutes. Serve with the remaining marinara sauce.

Nutrition

Per serving: 201 calories; 10 g fat (5 g sat, 4 g mono); 28 mg cholesterol; 13 g carbohydrates; 14 g protein; 2 g fiber; 680 mg sodium; 677 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Calcium (31% daily value), Vitamin A (25% dv), Potassium (19% dv).

1 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 1 medium-fat meat, 1 fat

A Black Tie Affair & Breakfast in Bed

I’ve been a bit behind with my posts lately but as my mom always says; “school come first!” My schedule is crazy busy right now and sleep is on the top of my list. However, I have finished two books; ‘A Black Tie Affair’ by Sherrill Bodine and ‘Breakfast in Bed’ by Robin Kaye.

‘A Black Tie Affair’ was good with a little mystery, forbidden love, and fashion. This romance, set in Chicago, is about the determined Athena Smith and Drew, the one who got away. A robbery of vintage dresses Athena is examining occurs right after she is drugged with a truth serum that the same dresses are covered in. The mystery of the dresses brings Drew and Athena together to deal with not only the problem at hand but with questions from the past. This was a very cute story, simple but it still gives you the warm fuzzies!

“Breakfast in Bed’ was so good! I loved this story; this is something that I would want to happen to me! Ugh, why can’t I have my own real life romance novel? Is that too much to ask? Anywho, the lovely and talented Becca Larsen moves from Philadelphia to New York in the hope of getting away from the family name. To her dismay, the move takes her right into the apartment of Rich Ronaldi, her best friend’s brother. The mix up of their living situation causes the two to become roommates and eventually Becca’s job as ‘Domestic God’ coach to Rich so he can get his girlfriend back. However, this new ‘Domestic God’ may be too good for Becca to let go of…I read this book in one day and for me, lately, that’s surprising! But I just couldn’t put it down! A must read!