Caramel Apples

Today was extra fun, after spending yesterday at the hospital w/ The Other David for his surgery. I helped one of the class moms make caramel apples w/ the whole elementary school (which is really only about 45 people).

The hardest part of making caramel apples is finding the caramel pieces to melt.  They are really hard to find here!  In the grocery store there is a display of baking needs for fall, under a picture of caramel apples, but no caramel pieces!  When I asked about them, the stock boy told me that it really isn't the right time of year for them.  Really?  I didn't realize there was a growing season for caramel pieces...and if not Halloween for candy apples, then when?

After The Kid made one for herself, she asked to make one for me!  How could I possibly turn that down?

She even put nuts on mine for me!  Yum!

Caramel Apples:

You will need

1 package Kraft or similar caramel pieces

2 T water

A slow cooker or double boiler

Plenty of apples (I like the Fuji ones best for these)

crushed pecans (optional)

popsicle sticks or chopsticks for handles.

Add all the pieces and the water to the top pot of double boiler or to the slow cooker.  Stir often to help it melt along.  Once it is smooth and creamy it is ready (if you are using a slow cooker this could take a while, so start well ahead of time).

Push a popsicle stick or chopstick well into the apple.  Dip the apple about 3/4 of the way into the caramel.  When you pull it out swirl it around a little to catch the dangling line of caramel.  Be careful b/c slow cookers are extremely hot and the caramel is molten, so it will stick to skin and prolong a burn.

After dipping and swirling, roll it generously in the chopped pecans.  Set it on a plate or wax paper (or muffin wrappers for giving away) and allow to cool at least an hour.

Enjoy!

Some Random Photos-- Trampoline Edition!

That thing paid for itself the first month!

Strike a Pose!

Since The Kid had the day off from school and since we have this costume sitting around we decided to take her in for a few pictures.  I picked out some favorites out of the tons of poses.  I ordered some enhanced versions of those, and posted a few others here.  We should get them back b/f too long!

When we get the actual ones I picked out back I will be sending some out!

Malama Pono!

Some Random Photos

Pumpkin Patch Edition!

I love fall!  My favorite time of year by a long shot.  I was so bummed when The Kid's school's field trip to Aloun Farms was cancelled due to premature crops this year.  We waited for a few weeks and took our own field trip.

We were greeted by a family of Maui Onions at the entrance.

Since it was the last day of the season for the farm they had brought most of the crops to the front.  They had gourds and smaller pumpkins spread all over.

And several giant pumpkins set out.  They had most of the pumpkins brought in, so our search for the perfect pumpkin began.

The Guy takes this task very seriously...

That one might be too small babe!

Not a pumpkin, luvkins.

Getting warmer it seems...

So we did spend about an hour or so roaming the fields just in case there was that magic perfect pumpkin hiding out there.

And in addition to lots of pumpkins, watermelons and gourds, we found plenty of...

mud!

We had a nice relaxing hayride...well, we got to sit on hay on a cart and go for a ride...and that was a nice break for my body from all the walking.

After all the searching we made our final choices...

I want the cute pink one!

Yay!  This one is going to be fun for carving (once we get all the mud off of...well everything).

The Ho'ala Pumpkin Festival is this week, and we are making caramel apples w/ A's mom at the school this week as well.  This might be the only time that I get to feel like it really is fall in Hawai'i!

Malama Pono!

Weird Science

(Photo from National Geographic)

Saturday we took The Kid to The Bodies Exhibition in Honolulu.  Audee first told us about it when she was here for the wedding, and I have been trying to talk myself into wanting to go since.  I've read a ton about it, and had a real morbid curiosity.  I have some other thoughts on it, shared in another space, but for now, know that we all had a really cool time.

The Kid was far more excited than I had anticipated.  She was not squicked out at all, which is more than I can say for myself.  They had audio tours to rent for the exhibit that had an adult and a kid version (the only difference was the language they used).  Throughout the hour plus we were there she was randomly spouting science facts.  It was so awesome to watch her face light up w/ knowledge, since they have been studying the human body in class.  She will tell you that her favorite part was the touching center, where she was offered the opportunity to hold a kidney and a brain...but she would only touch the kidney w/ one finger.  We let her pick out a souvenir from the gift shop at the end to take in for show and tell on Friday, and she chose a book w/ a large fold out body that is a little bigger than her.  It has all kinds of cool flaps to turn and parts to look at.

In the end, I am so glad we went.  While I have a lot of thoughts on this project, I am satisfied at having seen it w/ my own eyes to be able to judge it for myself.  If you live in a city where it is showing, I recommend seeing it yourself.  It wasn't as creepy as I thought (though I did shiver several times, and it smelled like the anatomy classroom from high school), and there was a lot to learn.  One of the coolest parts was the display of healthy organs next to unhealthy ones, and a box between a display of lungs partially filled w/ packs of cigarettes that people had discarded.  Apparently a good number of smokers who visit the exhibit commit to quitting smoking on the spot.

Again, check up on it.  There has been a lot of coverage, and a bit of controversy.  If you can, go.

Happy Birthday, S!

S had her birthday party last week, and yesterday was her party at the Ice Palace.

I am old enough to say "I haven't done that in over 20 years!"

The Kid started out w/ the little support things that they have for beginner skaters, even though this wasn't her first time.  She likes to ease into these things on her own.  But she was totally having fun!

Her friends were having fun w/ her too.  A was trying to coax her out onto the main rink w/o the supporter.

Speaking of being coaxed onto the ice, another family had left over adult skate rental tickets, and S's mom gave them to us b/c she insisted there was no way she was going onto the ice.  We got some skates, and decided to give it a try.  After all, I guess we had best be reacquainting ourselves w/ ice, huh?

It didn't turn out clearly on the pic, but we could see our breath.  Brr!

After we got out on the ice and made half a lap my lace broke on my right skate.  I didn't fall, but I sure couldn't walk myself to the counter to replace it.  The Guy had to go exchange it for me.  After that we were on our way.

I am not so good at ice skating.  But I got better.  And, Kid joined us on the main rink, first holding (clinging) to The Guy's hand, and eventually on her own.  She did so well, getting back up every time she fell...even when she took a good dive and landed face down.  She said it hurt, but didn't want any help off of the ice.  She did about another lap and exited.  I checked her knee, and she was fine and ready to go again...but they brought out the Zamboni and it was almost time for us to leave anyhow.  Since I had my bag locked up I didn't get any pics of her skating alone.  ;(  Maybe next time.

Kid has asked to go back again soon, so we are going to take her and A back next weekend as long as her homework gets finished all week.

We went w/ a couple of the girls and one of their dads to get a late lunch afterward.  S's mom had made a ton of local plate food for the party, but we were still hungry after all the skating!  FTR, I got a lot better, but I don't think my legs and feet can handle too much at once (as indicated by my sore and stiff joints today).

Oh, and she also fell asleep around 7.  Guess she wore herself out!