merry merry to all

As 2016 comes to a close, I would have to say it has had its ups and downs but all in all its been a good year and I am grateful for that. I am looking forward to Christmas with my husband and daughter.  Then I’m flying back to CT for a few days and then on to Florida to visit with my parents and sisters. I am blessed to have both of my parents healthy and energetic and I am lucky enough to be able to visit them several times a year.

I am taking time to spend with my family and friends and won’t be posting until I return in early January.  Thank you to all of you who read my blog and or follow me on Instagram. I’m excited at the possibilities that await in 2017!

I wish you all, the merriest of holidays and a happy and healthy new year.  As a small gift, I would love to share one of my favorite Christmas recipes.  It is such a decadent chocolate and caramel treat that I only make it at Christmas time.  You can make it whenever you like and it freezes beautifully.  They are called Carmelitas and I tasted my first one at a new neighbor’s home in Morristown, NJ when I was 13 years old.  I begged my mom to get the recipe and we have been making them ever since…

 

 

Carmelitas

Ingredients:

Crust

• 1 cup of flour
• 1 cup of oatmeal (Quaker Oats Quick 1 Minute Oats)
• ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
• ½ cup of butter, melted
• ½ teaspoon baking soda

Filling

• 6 ounces chocolate chips (I love milk chocolate but you can use semi-sweet)
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• ¾ cup caramel
• 3 tablespoons flour

Instructions:

1. In a standing mixer, combine brown sugar and melted butter.  Add remaining ingredients to form a crumb mixture.
2. Press half of the mixture into a 7″ x 10 ½ ” brownie pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.
3. Stir flour into caramel.  When the 10 minutes is up, evenly sprinkle pecans and chocolate chips over baked crumb mixture.  Top with caramel and then the remaining crumb mixture.
4. Bake at 350° for another 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.  Let cool and cut into squares.  Enjoy!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours…