Wednesday, trying to Maintain....

Well I was right I have a sinus infection.  I am on a really high dose of some drug it is a 20 day supply with a refill. I think it is working as I am not coughing as much but I still have a really, really bad headache and when I do cough I think my brain will explode.
You Have to love Calvin and Hobbs.

Monday mom came home from Lil sis's and she asked for the the krumkakke iron.  I said no and she had a fit.  I had neither the time nor the energy to deal with this.  I did help her make up the batter.  She could not find her recipe as she has strewn her recipe box all over the house.  So she used one that she nor I had made before. I left her alone and went downstairs to get done what I needed to get done.  Needless to say her work was less than stellar.  She tried to frost cookies at Lil sis's and they were a mess. I feel bad but I am also at my wits end.

     Last night I was trying to get some dinner ready before hubs left for the high school and she is up mess around in her dried up mess from the night before.  I found my recipe after I dug through the cook books.  Then I left her to her nonsense.  She could only finish 1/3 of the batter and then I had to go finish and clean up.  Gee thanks.

A box of Krumkakke these can be eaten alone or with whip cream and berries.

 See how I have not taken down any Thanksgiving decorations? I was so fed up with mom's mess and attitude that Lil sis came last night and got her.  Great I was able to clean the kitchen and make a double batch of caramels, and two batches of almond toffee.
Now all we have left to do is the kranz kakke and the rosettes.  Rosettes are a pain.  We are also going to dip pretzels and apricots not very Swedish but it will give mom something to do.  She can also wrap the caramels.  Oh I forgot we have Kringla to make, crap it never ends.
Old fashioned Almond Roca

3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter put in sauce pan and bring to boil stirring constantly.  Once boiling lower to a low bowl and stir for 6-7 minutes.  This is tedious but put on some Christmas music.  Now pour over slivered almonds on a cookie sheet.  Sprinkle choc chips over hot candy and cover with another cookie sheet to keep heat in.  Spread chocolate once chips are soft and sprinkle with almonds.  You can also substitute pecans or walnuts.  Let harden over night and break into pieces.  Store in an airtight container.

My favorite caramel recipe.

2 cups sugar,
1/2 cup butter,
1 cup half and half   (Another cup ready for later)
3/4 cup karo syrup (white)

bring this to a full boil stirring constantly now add another cup of half and half so you will need a total of 2 cups.
Now let mixture boil stirring frequently until caramel "goes to Moses."  It will darken and thicken and will split like the red sea when you run a wooden spoon through candy as it is boiling.  So when you can split caramel and it refills itself as the Red sea covered Pharaohs men your caramel is done.  Pour into a greased 8/8 pan.  I love to use my tart pan.  Cool over night and then cut and wrap in squares of wax paper.  This is a great gift by the way.

     Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim