SPOOKY GIVEAWAY BELOW!
From Daryl aka Avery:
Halloween is so much fun. I love the decorations - even the gory ones - and I love seeing kids in their costumes. I also love many of the foods that people bring out during this time. Orange-toned foods. Chili. Cider.
I love buying a bag of candy at the store, putting it in the freezer, and not sharing it with anyone. Usually Milky Way, truth be told. They're great frozen!
I also love to surf Pinterest, as I've said in the past. There are so many clever decorating ideas. I found many of the colorful ideas I included into STIRRING THE PLOT, the Halloween-themed Cookbook Nook Mystery, on Pinterest.
I also find photos on Pinterest of goodies that I know I have to learn how to make. I found these apple slices on Pinterest and followed the link to the blog: Domestically Blissful.
Note:
I’ve decided
that these Chocolate Caramel Apple Slices – I start my recipe title with chocolate because let’s face it, they are mostly
chocolate! - are the easiest way to
enjoy this special fall dessert! Plus they make great party treats.
From
Domestically Blissful, here are 5 suggestions to help ensure
perfect Apple Slices, though I have tweaked them to show what I
learned or did differently.
- Cut thick apple slices so the stick stays secure. Approximately 1/2 – 3/4 inch thick works great.
- Make sure to pat down the apples to soak up any extra apple juice.
- Allow some of the melted chocolate to drip onto the stick. This will act as a sort of edible glue that holds the stick and apple together.
- Don’t drizzle caramel on your slices until chocolate is set.
- Domestically Blissful also wrote: "I recommend that you make them and eat them in the same day. The longer they sit the greater the chance for a weeping caramel apple slice, which will cause the yummy coating to break or slide off in some areas." HOWEVER, I, Daryl, didn’t have this problem as I kept them refrigerated until ready to eat. 2 FULL DAYS. The kids ate every bite! Nothing hit the floor!
CARAMEL APPLE
SLICES
Ingredients:
Apples – make sure they are crisp – each
makes 3-4 slices
White or Wooden Lollipop Sticks
Melting Chocolate (*1 used Wilton’s;
purchased at Michael’s Art Store)
Caramel ( I used Smucker’s caramel
topping; I might melt Kraft caramels in future)
Toppings – optional ( I used crushed
cashews)
Instructions:
First wash
& slice your apples, remove the seeds, insert the stick at the bottom, and pat the apple slices dry. (I
didn’t remove the seeds, figuring I wouldn’t eat to the core of this treat.)
Cover each
apple slice in melted chocolate and place on a piece of wax paper to dry. Here's how I did it: I painted the chocolate on with a spoon. I did one side, let it harden, and then
flipped the slices (setting them on parchment paper) and painted the other and the edges of the apples.
Let harden.
Then drizzle
the caramel and press other toppings on top of your apple slices.
Let harden and set in refrigerator for up to two days.
One slice is enough for any dessert eater!
Halloween Giveaway!
It’s Halloween
week so I’m giving away
a copy of STIRRING THE PLOT
OR a Savor the Mystery tote
bag,
one winner’s choice!
Leave your email so I can contact you if you win.
GRILLING THE SUBJECT, the 5th Cookbook Nook Mystery, is out!
The Wild West Extravaganza has come to Crystal Cove.
Click here to order.
The Wild West Extravaganza has come to Crystal Cove.
Click here to order.
FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery is out!
Finally there's going to be a cheese festival in Providence!
Finally there's going to be a cheese festival in Providence!
Click to order.
A werewolf over. Six feet tall and with men's clothes.donamaekutska7@gmail.com the eyes were glowing red.
ReplyDeleteYeow. Ick! LOL ~ Daryl
DeleteI saw a scary clown. I hate those things!
ReplyDeleteDigicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
You are not alone. Lots of people do. They look so docile from afar and then they get close... ~ Daryl
DeleteAwesome recipe! The spookiest decoration that I have seen this season is a full set of grave plots for a family on the front lawn, dates and all (death set in the future, obviously). Very negative and beyond spooky, if you ask me. EMS591@aol.com
ReplyDeleteLiz, like real dates for real people? Ew. Now that provokes a mystery writer to come up with a story for sure. LOL ~ Daryl
DeleteThis wasn't spooky to me but it was spooky to a dog. I saw a shared video on facebook where someone had placed a witch with a sensor over a dog's food bowl. Each time he would lean in for a bite, the witch would cackle and put out a hand to cover the bowl. He would jump back in fright and then bark at the witch to tell the witch to back off. He would gather his courage and try again. He would get scared each time but he never gave up. It was a good reminder to keep going, no matter what your obstacles are. jenne.turner@unt.edu
ReplyDeleteJenna, that's just downright cruel to the animal. Yes, we keep going, but first we call the animal rights activist! :) ~ Daryl
DeleteI'm with you on this one!!
DeleteGreat healthier recipe for Halloween! Spookiest decoration I have seen so far has been a coffin with a hand creeping out of the slightly opened lid on a front lawn. grace dot koshida at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteGrace, are you kidding? Healthy? All that chocolate! But it IS fun and delicious. ~ Daryl (Oh, wait, chocolate is a food group!)
DeleteOur next door neighbor's yard, filled with Halloween decorations which include gravestones, shoes sticking up from the ground, hands sticking up from the ground as if to grab you, various ghostly figures flying about (they're tied in the tree) and scary "scarecrow" figures. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net
ReplyDeleteDianne, the hands always get me, too! Or a foot dangling out the back of a car.
DeleteThis looks like a tasty treat. I'd probably leave off the caramel and just go for the chocolate. :) As for scary decorations - not really that spooky scary but there's a house near me that has their yard covered in all types of Halloween decorations. They decorate for every holiday.
ReplyDeleteThoughts in Progress
and MC Book Tours
Mason, you sure don't need to add the caramel. The chocolate is what makes the shell. I happen to love caramel, but it's not for everyone. :) ~ Daryl
DeleteHaven't seen any really scary decorations around here, but on the news, those peeping tom window decorations were very, very scary!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! rw620 AT aol DOT com
ReplyDeleteRobin, haven't seen those. Oo-o-o-oh. ~ Daryl
DeleteA giant spider that jumps out at you when you step on the sensor pad made me scream. J_A_M_5672@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteNo kidding! That would make me scream, too, Joann. ~ Daryl
DeleteSome guy sitting in his car, dressed up like a clown. I dont get the clown thing and it scares me every time.
ReplyDeleteLanderson0626@hotmail.com
Okay, that is just weird. He was probably waiting for the other 14 to come and get in the car with him, but honestly, they are scary. ~ Daryl
DeleteA group of us joined a Halloween road rally. We receive a list of addresses that have Halloween decorations. Then follow each and meet at a restaurant at the end.
ReplyDeleteWe saw what looked like a professional exhibit of The Walking Dead TV show. It was so realistic, as if they would move at any moment. Mbcncc@gmail.com
Mary, that sounds like so much fun! ~ Daryl
DeleteGreat recipe and giveaway. An elaborate ghost, spider and creature decor in the front of the house which took a great deal of creativity. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteTraveler, I think spiders and webs are the most often decor I see. That spider web stuff is HARD to remove from bushes. LOL ~ Daryl
DeleteThe ones down the road have a tree with a white sheet like a ghost with the fake blood all over it and something for the eyes which are black looks creepy
ReplyDeletePenney penneyw(at)sbcglobal.net
A bloody ghost? Huh. I didn't know ghosts could bleed. :) ~ Daryl
DeletePenney, by random number selection, you won the giveaway! I'll be in touch. Congrats! ~ Daryl
DeleteThe gigantic spider poised above the garage which lights up is amazing and seen from quite a distance. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteSpooky! ~ Daryl
DeletePictures of Presidential nominees
ReplyDeletePamela, you are so funny!!! ROFL!!! ~ Daryl
DeleteA life like zombie.
ReplyDeletekckendler at gmail dot com
Zombies creep me out. I've never been into them or movies that have them. ~ Daryl
DeleteI really hate spiders---so when I saw a huge spider on the side of a house, my skin just started crawling.
ReplyDeletesuefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sue, I hate walking out in the morning with Sparky and running into an unseen spider web. I'm certain 10 spiders are going to attack me STAT. Ugh. ~ Daryl
DeleteHappy Halloween. I love this season and faithfully plug in all the indoor decorations each night. I take a walk around the neighborhood every day and the other day was a little startled by hands sticking out of the ground. A wooden pallet nestled in with the cactus, hands sticking out of it, very subtle but creepy! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletesallycootie@gmail.com
Sally, subtle is definitely the creepiest. It sort of sneaks up on you! ~ Daryl
DeleteThis recipe looks so good! I saw a creepy grim reaper. By the way, I am reading Grilling The Subject. It's definitely a suspenseful story. I am truly enjoying it. kristilewis.lrc@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteKristi, I'm so glad you're enjoying it. Thanks for telling me! ~ Daryl
DeleteI have to agree with Pamela Paterakis. My grandson does have the tombstones I made out - no real people dates. I think I'll make the apples and just dip them in caramel. Yum! jawdance@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteJudy, so creepy! Yes, just dipping in caramel sounds good, too. :) ~ Daryl
DeleteThe recipe looks very good. I like the idea of sliced apples instead of whole apples. You get more chocolate bwahaha! But for reels. I haven't really seen anything too scary. Our neighbors put up a headless horseman which has red eyes. It does look a little scary at night. Thanks for the giveaway! crossxjo @hotmail. com
ReplyDeleteDefinitely more chocolate! Bwahaha! ~ Daryl
DeleteWhat a fun excuse for eating chocolate! But, who really needs an excuse?
ReplyDeleteI already have your wonderful book, so please pick someone else.
Libby, I agree. Okay, who needs an excuse? LOL ~ Daryl
DeleteLove the recipe Really want to try it. Spookiest Halloween decoration I've seen was a huge black spider on a web. Wonderful giveaway. chettysmom@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chettysmom! :) Daryl
DeleteHard to choose. My neighborhood is really into Halloween. Yesterday I saw a two story house with all kinds of spooks hanging off the upstairs and downstairs porches. I've seen gigantic spider webs with gigantic spiders. Front yard scenes with scads of skeletons; one is a dance party. Just amazing.
ReplyDeletepatdupuy@yahoo.com
I think people haven't gotten much more "creative" in recent years. ~ Daryl
DeleteI can't wait to make these apple slices with my daughter! I've seen them on Pinterest (I'm on there way too much!) but wasn't sure they'd really work. I try to avoid the ever-humbling Pinterest-fail. But seeing someone "real" try them, I'm diving in! Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteawilcox1182@gmail.com
They are fun with kids to help! ~ Daryl (PS I'm glad you think I'm real LOL)
DeleteA giant spider.
ReplyDeletesgiden at verizon(.)net
You are not alone. ~ Daryl
DeleteThe spookiest decoration I have seen is a line of adult size zombies - arms outstretched - walking from the house down to the street. It was WONDERFUL! Bonnie (bmalic610@yahoo.com)
ReplyDeleteA line of zombies. Oh my! ~ Daryl
DeleteI tend to try and not look at the creepy decorations. I want to enjoy this day with my husband it is his birthday.
ReplyDeleteCherylB1987 AT hotmail DOT come
Awwww. Happy birthday Cheryl's hubby. ~ Daryl
DeleteA motion sensor 9ft Frankenstein scared me at the Home Depot! Zeta(at)iwon(dot)com
ReplyDeleteAt Home Depot? Yipes! ~ Daryl
DeleteFortunately, I am living a sheltered life in the boonies so I haven't seen any creepy decorations. I hate creepy! Give me cute! I can dream creepy enough all on my own! (And the 40 mice we have captured in our basement this year is all the creepy I can take!) The chocolate caramel apple slices look so good!
ReplyDeleteElaineE246 at msn dot com
I like cute, too! ~ Daryl (40 mice? ick!)
DeleteThe creepiest decorations I've seen this year was a house in the neighborhood wit all sorts of spiders and spider webs and other stuff in their yard. Those chocolate carmel apple slices really look amazing. Great for this time of the year. Happy Halloween!
ReplyDeletedIannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Dianne, glad you like the recipe! ~ Daryl
DeleteI have to ask, did you use white chocolate as well(is that what the white is)? I really havent seen any decorations this year, but I think the ones that have scared me the most(on facebook) are the ones where something jumps out. Stuff that jumps at me always scares me to death. Oh also what kind of apple did you use? I always think caramel, candied, etc apples should be granny smith, but I see you used a different kind. Just being nosy, lol. kayt18 (at) comcast (dot) net. Thanks for the recipe and contest!
ReplyDeleteKay, yes, I used white cohcolate, too. And then caramel. Re: apples. I've seen regular red, Granny Smith, etc. I bought these and they were nice and firm and tart so they worked great. ~ Daryl
DeleteThere haven't been many decorations up in our neighborhood so - even though they aren't decorations but are scary are some of the movies hubby has had on as Halloween nears. Just the sound effects keep me away! jeaniedannheim(at)ymail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteMy son loves scary movies. Me? Not so much! ~ Daryl
DeleteI have to drive by a zombie that's standing at the edge of a neighbor's yard, it's freaky...realistic looking. Yummy apples!!! I would like to try these bite sized. konecny7(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteMarci, I bet they would be wonderful bite-sized. I like fruit in chocolate fondue! ~ Daryl
DeleteThe decorations that are the spookiest are the floating bloody heads that look like some decapitated them. But my favorite is either an eight food witch or a pumpkin the size of a doghouse.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway...
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Marilyn, those are spooky! ~ Daryl
DeleteAnd the winner is, by random number selector, Penney W! Congrats. I'll be in touch. Thanks to all for your fun comments! ~ Daryl
ReplyDeleteProbably the scariest thing I have seen is a giant (like ten inch) tarantula on the lawn next door. I never did like them. Most things make me laugh.
ReplyDeletelkish77123 at gmail dot com
I'm really surprised that I haven't seen anything really scary this year! Happy Halloween!!
ReplyDelete