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So you’re ready to make caramel apples, eh? Well knowledge is power, so here are some ways to guarantee success.

10 TIPS FOR MAKING CARAMEL APPLES

1. BUY INDIVIDUAL APPLES. You don’t know what you are getting if you buy apples in a bag. Yes, buying the bag is cheaper, but you want to bite into a hard, crisp apple… not one that’s soft with bruises.

2. WASH THE APPLES. Apples produce their own wax naturally. Many growers (even organic) also add another layer of USDA-approved wax to give them shine and retain moisture. You’ll want to remove this wax so the caramel will stick. Simply place the apples in a colander and pour on boiling water. Dry completely to remove the white film.

3. USE FOOD-SAFE STICKS. Chopsticks, craft sticks or pop sticks are perfect for holding the apples. It’s very Pinteresty to use sticks you’ve gathered outside. Unless you’re going to boil these twigs and let them dry out thoroughly, pass up this idea. Do you really want to use something that a squirrel sat on earlier in the day?

4. CHILL YOUR APPLES. Line a baking tray with parchment paper, put the sticks in the apples and then put the apples on the tray. Refrigerate until ready to dip. This will help the caramel stick!

5. USE THE RIGHT POT. Use a heavy pot. A heavier pot distributes the heat evenly so you won’t get “hotspots” and burn the caramel.

6. GET A THERMOMETER. A candy thermometer is absolutely essential. Many recipes give you visual clues, but what I may consider “dark amber” someone else may find to be “already burned.” Don’t risk it.

7. USE A SILICONE SPATULA. A heat-resistant spatula allows you to really scrape the sides of the pot so the caramel doesn’t overcook and burn.

8. HAVE THE DECORATIONS READY. This goes back to basic mise en place; have everything in place before you begin. You want the decorations on plates and ready to go before the caramel on the dipped apples cools too much.

9. DECORATION PERFECTION. When decorating the caramel-covered apples, roll the apples in the decorations (nuts, candy, whatever) or put the decorations in your palm and press them gently into the apple. If you try to sprinkle on the decorations, they will just fall off. Get ‘em to stick the first time.

10. HAVE PATIENCE. Making caramel apples takes lots of patience. Waiting for the caramel to reach the right temperature. Waiting for the caramel to cool before decorating the apples. Waiting for the decorated apples to set before you can dive in and finally eat them…

Now that you’re armed with these 10 Tips for Making Caramel Apples, click here to find the Perfect Caramel Apples Recipe. And if, by chance, you have any leftover caramel… pop some popcorn and pour it on top. Now that’s enchantment!

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These days you’re lucky if the ice cream truck passes through your neighborhood. 

Really lucky. When I was younger, we would chase the “ice cream man” down the street so we could find a little relief from the scorching West Texas sun. I can still taste that deliciously cold coconut ice pop and feel it slowly dripping down my hand.

Pure magic.

Sadly, there are no trucks in our neighborhood. But I can still recreate a little bit of the fun with these Coconut Raspberry Ice Pops. I added fruit because it really makes the cold treats POP! Major bonus: these are gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan! I submitted this recipe to the Virtual Vegan Linky Potluck. Check it out!

For this recipe, I used Nopro’s Ice Pop Maker that makes 10 3-ounce ice pops. If you don’t have an ice pop mold, go old-school and pour them into a paper cup or an ice cube tray.

What memories. What magic.

If you like ice cream (and who doesn’t?) you’ll probably enjoy these posts:

Easy Ice Cream Peach Pie 

Mini-Chocolate Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwiches

Snickerdoodle Ice Cream Sandwiches

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To celebrate National Caramel Popcorn Day, here’s a rerun of a favorite recipe: Chili-Spiced Caramel Popcorn. 

Keep this recipe in your back pocket for whenever you’re going to have a crowd over and you want something salty and sweet to snack on… it doesn’t have to be National Caramel Popcorn Day!

Oh… and don’t make this Chili Spice Caramel Popcorn too screaming hot… you’ll want the sweetness to come through, too!

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One thing you can say about the folks at Coca-Cola—they’ve always been brilliant at marketing.

The second thing you can now say—I hope no one believes they’re really offering “solutions” to the obesity epidemic.

In case you missed it, here’s one of the ads that Coke is running to distance themselves from criticism that their sugary drinks are closely related to the national epidemic of child and adult obesity.

Coca Cola wants us to believe that they are really, really trying to help our national health crisis by:

1. Offering zero-calorie and low-calorie soda.
2. Replacing normal sodas in school with less caloric options.
3. Donating millions of dollars to charitable fitness programs.
4. Discovering Truvia, an alternative sugar.
5. Oh, and uh, by marketing their products a little differently.

The sad part is that the health advocates who have been pushing for an act of contrition from the big soda companies, just don’t have the money to launch a major and truly effective anti-obesity, anti-junk food campaign (despite making significant progress like pushing New York City to enact a 16 oz. soda ban).

Coca Cola says obesity is an issue that “concerns all of us,” and if we all just “come together,” we can make a difference.

Our country is facing its biggest health crisis EVER because of companies like Coca Cola and other junk-food vendors. For years we’ve been inundated with all kinds of propaganda telling us that we will be happier! and have a better life! with a frosty bottle of sugar in our hand!

But the reality is that until we (and the Obama administration) put real money and action behind the anti-obesity, anti-junk food advocates, we’re going to be stuck with disingenuous commercials… even as more of us die with that frosty bottle of sugar in our hand.