My husband games. He plays video games. He does role playing online computer games. He plays card games and occasionally a board game or chess. And as geeky as it sounds, Dungeon and Dragons. Or something like it. The cool thing about him gaming is he comes home in a good mood. Not the "Packers-just-won-a- football-game-exuberant-happiness" mood... but rather chipper. It's also an excuse for me to bake! He has taken various treats to this group, bringing me back empty or nearly empty containers.
We both got out of work late so I was rushing around when he got home. Unfortunately he was home for just a few minutes before declaring he only had 15 more minutes before he had to leave again. I panicked. I was only half way into my new recipe I just found for Caramel Butter Bars. I quickly whipped up a pan of rice krispie treats made with homemade marshmallows (I had made marshmallows last week for s'mores). My husband took the rice krispie treats and I was abandoned with an entire pan of these sweet beauties:
You know it smells good if I couldn't wait to eat one before snapping a picture.
Note: I left out the sea salt by accident. They were wonderful even without that added complexity. Well there was an entire pound of butter in it, so it was destined for yumminess.
Now Bake That!
It was a snow day yesterday. The first thing that pops into my head (after I do my happy-I-work-for-a-school-district dance) is that a snow day means making a fort, playing in the snow and of course...hot chocolate. To me, hot chocolate means homemade marshmallows. Making homemade marshmallows may seem extreme. They are not. They are the best. If you have ever tasted a homemade marshmallow, you understand the internal disappointment I feel when I have to buy a regular bag of cylindrical globs of rubber.
I use the Bon Appetit Marshmallow recipe. Easy-ish..but very messy.
Then we had another snow day today. What to do?!?
My favorite ice cream has marshmallow and caramel. So why not make brownies with marshmallow and caramel sauce on top? Instead of researching on the internet like I normally do, I decided to wing it.
What could possibly go wrong?
The first caramel sauce recipe I tried was Caramel Sauce from Simply Recipes. I did my best but I know exactly what happened, I burned it. I tasted it and it was bitter and disgusting. Ick!
For take two on the caramel sauce, I used a recipe from the food network, Easy Caramel Sauce. It had 5 stars. It must be good! Now though the instructions didn't guide use of a candy thermometer, I decided to use one and bring it up to 230 degrees. I was determined not to burn it this time.
It was a good idea to use the thermometer because the sauce was pretty good. Whew!
Next step, make the brownies. I used a friend's family recipe so I can't share it. (I discuss my brownie tips on my past post, Magical Brownies.) My son helped me make the batter. As we were stirring I told him what I was going to do next and he said, those sound like epic brownies! He is right. Anything with caramel AND marshmallow must be epic.
I cut up my marshmallows into pieces and place it on top of the brownies. Put it in the oven for 5 minutes, swirled it around, added caramel sauce and then popped it back in the oven for 20 more minutes.
Conclusion:
Epic fail brownies. :(
They were grainy. They were a little bitter. Plus they didn't even look that good.
I had to do something....
The cure for epic fail brownies is coat something chocolate!
I took my marshmallows, cut them up again and melted some Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate. I dipped and found happiness again! I think I just wanted chocolate with my marshmallow.
Ah...chocolate covered homemade marshmallows.
Now Bake That!
