Jenn McKinlay: What Autumn Means to Me!
I grew up in New England and autumn has been my favorite season all my life. There is just nothing like the feeling of crisp mornings after a long humid summer, or watching the leaves change into their gorgeous array of colors and then drop to the ground like nature's confetti. I just love love love it.
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Of course, this is also the season of apple picking, pumpkin patches, and trick o' treating. I mean, seriously, as a professional candy freak, what's not to love?
She (i.e. me) makes salted caramel sauce! Caramel is synonymous with autumn for me - probably because of my deep and abiding love for caramel apples - way more than pumpkin spice ever could be.
RECIPE:
1 cup granulated sugar
6 Tablespoons of unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Heat granulated sugar in a medium stainless steel saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Sugar will form clumps and eventually melt into a amber-brown liquid as you continue to stir. Be careful not to burn it.
Once sugar is completely melted, stir in the butter until melted and combined. If you notice the butter separating or if the sugar clumps, remove from heat and whisk to combine it again. Return to heat once it’s smooth. Stir in the vanilla. Then slowly add the heavy cream, stirring constantly.
Once the heavy cream has been fully incorporated, stop stirring and allow to boil for 1 minute. It will rise in the pan as it boils.
Remove from heat and stir in the salt. The caramel will be a thin liquid at this point. Allow to cool, so it will thicken, before using.
Leftover sauce can be stored for up to 1 month in the refrigerator. The sauce will solidify in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove to desired consistency.
Reds and Readers, what recipe means autumn to you?
For me, it's apple cider that signals fall has arrived . . . and that means it's time for an apple cider doughnut cake . . . .
ReplyDeleteDo you have a recipe for Apple cider doughnuts?
DeleteDoughnut cake?
DeleteJoan, we want the recipe for cider doughnut cake!
DeleteApple cider and apple cider donuts
ReplyDeleteApple cider and pumpkin pie. Apple cider doughnuts if I can find a non dairy gluten free recipe. Some fall soups when the weather gets chilly.
ReplyDeleteI love caramel. In Brazil they would boil a can of sweetened condensed milk (in the can) for an hour or something and it magically turns into caramel! Sorry about your Phoenix fall, Jenn.
ReplyDeleteFall is lovely around here, and foodwise it means (my world famous) apple pie and a cider donut from Cider Hill Farm a mile away. Since the pandemic they only sell cider donuts pre-bagged, so the minimum you can buy is six. Tough work, but somebody's gotta do it!
Do they take mail orders for cider hill farms?
DeleteFall means soup and it means stew. It means apple crisp instead of berries. It is my favorite season. But it is still pretty warm here and the leaves are just beginning to change color. Some things can't be rushed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe for salted caramel. I love it.