Caramel Sauce for Ice Cream

Desperate for some caramel sauce on a Sunday, and no cream in the house, we found this recipe and fell in caramel love.  It may be because of how much vanilla is in it, but oh my, it's so good.

3/4 C. butter
1 1/2 C. brown sugar
2 T. water
1/4 t. salt
1/3 C. evaporated milk or cream
1 T. vanilla

Combine the butter, sugar, water, and salt over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Bring to a boil for about 5 minutes;  thicker is better.  Remove from the heat and stir in the milk and vanilla.

Waffles

I have been making these waffles for decades.  Literally.  Because I'm old.

1 3/4 C. flour
1 T. sugar
1 T. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 1/2 C. milk
1/3 C. vegetable oil
2 egg yolks
2 eggs whites

Mix all the dry ingredients together.  Mix the milk, oil, and yolks together.  Whip the egg whites.  Mix the dry and the wet ingredients together, leaving some lumps.  Fold in the egg whites.  Cook in the waffle iron.

Caramel for apples and pretzels

I found this recipe years ago, and after many batches of trial and error, I finally got it.

1.5 C. sugar
1.5 C. brown sugar
1.5 C. butter
1.5 C. light corn syrup
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

Combine all ingredients.  Stir constantly and bring to a boil over medium heat.  Cook until the caramel starts to just barely form a soft ball, but with a slight hardening on the edges.  At this stage it's perfect for apples and pretzels.  Cook a little longer for caramels.


On Mom's candy thermometer - between 235 and 240 degrees,

Banana Bread

I had a really great recipe for banana bread that had sour cream in it, and it has been lost to the ages.  This one looks pretty similar, from what I can remember.

4 very ripe bananas, divided 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup white sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons white sugar 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional) 3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled 2 large eggs 1/3 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract   Preheat the oven to 350.  Grease a 5x9 loaf pan. Mash 2 bananas in a bowl with a fork. Place remaining 2 bananas in a separate bowl with 1 cup sugar and beat the bananas and sugar with an electric mixer until creamed and fluffy, 3 minutes. Beat in melted butter, eggs, sour cream, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.   Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl and stir the flour mixture into banana-sugar mixture. Fold in mashed bananas and walnuts. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and tap the pan on the counter several times to remove any air pockets. Stir 2 teaspoons sugar with cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the top of the loaf.   Bake in the preheated oven until bread is golden brown on top and set in the center, 1 hour and 15 minutes; rotate bread pan in oven halfway through baking. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to finish cooling on a wire rack.

Orange Frosting

I can't remember what they served this to us on, but it was tasty.  Maybe pumpkin bread?

1/2 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 t. vanilla
2 pounds powdered sugar

Mix and enjoy!

Raspberry Honey Butter

Another one from Election training;  again, so so good.

1/2 C. butter, softened
1/4 C. honey
1/4 C. raspberry jam
1 t. vanilla

Mix all ingredients and enjoy!

Cinnamon Honey Butter

I had this at an Election training night, with enormous slices of bread;  so good!

1/2 C. butter, softened
1/4 C. honey
1/4 c. powdered sugar
1 t. cinnamon

Mix all together and enjoy!