I've moved!

 

If Y'all are seeing this page it

is because I have made the

BIG MOVE to a NEW SITE!

(insert jumping up and down here!)

I would love it if Y'all would make

the move with me. You can find the

NEW and IMPROVED

Lark's Country Heart Blog HERE!! 

 

There are a TON of New Recipes for Y'all to

catch up on. BE sure to subscribe by clicking

on the "Follow" icon on the right hand side of the page!

 

(www.larkscountryheart.com)

 

See Y'all there! ~ Lark

 



Soft and Chewy Apple Cider Caramels

Every once in a while I create a

recipe that makes me want to

share it with everyone I know.

When creating recipes it can take a couple

 of tries to perfect, tweak, get the right balance

of certain ingredients in order to have a

successful end product. Well after many

and I mean MANY tries of making these

caramels, I am SHOUTING out load

with a smile on my face..."I DID IT!"

These Apple Cider Caramels are

one of my absolute favorite caramels!

You care going to be amazed at just

how good they are.

 

Soft and Chewy Apple Cider Caramels

2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream

1 Cup Light Corn Syrup

2 Cups White Sugar

6 TBSP. Butter~ cut into pieces

1 1/2  teaspoon of Apple Pie Spice~ divided

1/2 Cup Boiled Cider ~ *see note below

1/2 teaspoon Salt

 

*Take 1 Cup Apple Cider and

boil it down until you receive a 1/2 Cup

of boiled cider.

 

Lightly grease a 9x9 pan, line with

parchment paper and lightly grease

the paper as well. Leave enough paper to

hand over the edges. This will make it easier to

remove the set caramel out of the pan.

In a large pot combine the cream, corn syrup,

sugar, butter, cider and 1/2 teaspoon of

the apple pie spice. Bring to a boil stirring until

all the sugar has dissolved. (make sure you place

your candy thermometer into the pot first thing)

When it reaches a boil, STOP stirring.

Reduce heat to med-high, cooking until the

candy reaches 248 degree's.

(It took me about 24 minutes)

Remove from heat, stir in salt and remaining

apple pie spice. Pour into your prepared pan.

Let caramel sit for a minute or 2 and then I

like to sprinkle the top with cinnamon/sugar.

Just enough to give it a little sparkle. ;)

Let cool and set. I made this late at night

and then just let it set over night.

Cut into small pieces by using a sharp

knife that you can dip into hot water

before each new cut. I then like to

wrap each piece in wax paper to keep fresh.

Store in an air tight container.

The perfect Holiday Treat,

Lark

 



Soft and Simple Dinner Rolls

These rolls are so light and soft.

You can bet they wont sit for long

in the bread basket.

I usually have to double this

recipe in order to make sure

I have enough for everyone to

have a couple.

 

Soft and Simple Dinner Rolls

1 packet Active Dry Yeast~ *I use Red Star

1 Cup Warm water

1/2 Cup Sugar~ I use Domino Sugar

3 Eggs~ beaten

1/2 Cup Butter~ melted

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Orange Zest

4 Cups All Purpose Flour~ I use GoldMedal Flour

 

Place the yeast in with the warm water,

let set for about 5 minutes. (since there is more

water than yeast, it will look watery)

In your mixing bowl combine the sugar,

eggs, butter, salt and orange zest.

Add in the yeast, and flour.

Place dough in an air tight container

or cover with plastic wrap.

Leave in a warm area, for about 2 hours

or until it doubles in size.

Punch down dough and roll out

onto a floured surface. I roll my dough out into

a large circle, then using a pizza cutter, cut into

smaller triangles. Roll each triangle starting

from the largest end first. Tuck the small

end underneath to seal. Place onto a

lightly greased baking sheet.

Lightly cover with a towel to let the dough

rise a second time. The second rising usually

goes by quicker, about 20 minutes.

While they are raising, preheat your

oven to 375 degree's.

Bake for 20-24 minutes.

The hardest part of this whole

recipe is the few minutes after you pull

these little rolls out of the oven, and you

have to wait for dinner in order to eat one!

HAPPY BAKING,

Lark

 

 



Sweet Potato Casserole

Thanksgiving Holiday has always

been one of my favorite Holidays.

I love having a get together, I love

spending hours in the kitchen.

Preparing dishes that everyone looks

forward to each year. I feel as if I am

giving a personal "thank you" to each

individual that is partaking of the meal.

I have much to be grateful for,

and each Thanksgiving gives us

the opportunity to share that with

others. So even though you are not

sitting around MY table I want to

 express my gratitude for each and everyone

of you who take the time to support

me and my site. I am in awe just how many

come visit my site daily. THANK YOU!!

 Now what do you say we get cooking?

Believe it or not, I never had this

growing up. No one in my family

cared for sweet potato's. Although we did have

Yams (Sweet Potatoes) in Orange Pineapple Sauce

(My Mom made them with canned yams.)

Well since then I have come to really enjoy

the taste of sweet potatoes. This casserole is

simple to make, and can be served as a

side dish or even as a dessert.

 

Sweet Potato Casserole

4 Cups Sweet Potatoes~ peeled, cubed/cooked

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/8 tsp. Nutmeg

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

4 TBSP. Butter

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Cup Toffee Pieces

1/2 Cup Chopped Pecan's *Optional

1 Cup Mini Marshmallows * Optional

1/4 Cup Honey

 

Preheat oven to 400

Mash potato's along with the butter.

Add in salt, nutmeg, cinnamon as well

as 1/2 cup of the brown sugar and toffee.

Spread into a 9x13 pan. Bake for 20 minutes

Remove from oven and top with remaining

brown sugar, toffee pieces.

**If you are adding in the pecans and marshmallows

you will just add them over the brown sugar/toffee

mixture.

Return to the oven and broil for a few minutes.

Watch carefully so it wont burn.

Before serving drizzle the honey

over top. DELISH!!

 

Happy Holidays,

Lark

 

 



A New DIY site for Crafts / Christmas Cards

The Holiday Season has started!

If your like me I tend to start planning

on DIY decorations and crafts to add

that homemade touch to the holiday's.
  I search all over the internet
 looking for the newest and latest idea's.
 This year I have found

a fabulous D.I.Y site that has a ton

of idea's to inspire you.

JULEP  has everything from

Holiday craft ideas, Fonts, Party,

DIY Wedding to Holiday Tips and

much, much more!

 

*Just LOOK at this cute

Scratch Off Advent Calendar.

 I just know you are going to find

a ton of ideas to get you in the

crafting mood.

 

Another MUST visit Site you

are going to be thrilled you found

is Minted here you are going

to find a huge selection of Holiday

cards to personalize with your own

photo's to send to everyone on your

Christmas list.

Take a peek at a few samples~

 There are so many to choose from.

I cant wait to get my order back

to send off to my family and friends.

Not only can you make holiday

cards, you can make party

invitations, birth or wedding

announcements.

The possibilities are endless.

 

You can also follow Julep

and Minted on  Face Book HERE 

and Twitter HERE as well as

on Pinterest HERE .

 

HAPPY CRAFTING!

Lark

 

Minted has given me a credit to use for

the purchase of my own Holiday Cards

in return for advertising their site to

Lark's Country Heart readers.