Act 1: Grammie discovers that her oldest daughter is deaf after a childhood illness. The family moves from Indiana to California for the best care, and scrapes through during the depression when people traded vegetables to get their cars fixed by my mechanic grandfather. Act 2:There was no money for Christmas gifts, so Grammie made her famous Christmas Caramels, using real cream and butter like she did on the farm in Indiana – and spending hours with her two daughters hand wrapping every piece. She took great pride in giving a gift she created with love and care, and the Christmas Caramels became a family tradition carried on by four granddaughters. Act 3: Several years ago I entered Grammie’s Christmas Caramels in the fair…and they received a blue ribbon. I called my grandmother to tell her, and she replied, "That’s wonderful, honey. But the best prize for me is that you learned how to make a gift from the heart. I guess those judges could just taste the love!"
preparation
preparation Time20 mins
cook Time
40 mins
servings
50
calories
0 per serving
ingredients
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup cream
- 1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
directions
Butter a cookie sheet
Butter a large cookie sheet and set it aside. (Use real butter because this flavors the caramels and use a heavy enough layer so that you don't leave any unbuttered surface or the caramels will stick.)
Pour it out
When you reach the firm ball stage, use a wooden spoon to help pour out the caramel onto the buttered cookie sheet. Wear kitchen mits and take care -- it's very hot! Let it cool for an hour. Cover with waxed paper until you have time to wrap.
Wrap it up!
Find a movie that you want to watch and put in on! Bring the cookie sheet with caramel, a table knife, clean scissors, a large empty bowl and a box of waxed paper to your favorite recliner and set up a card table or stand to your side to hold everything. Cut at least 100 waxed paper rectangles about 3 x 4 inches. Then use the knife to score the caramels into bite size pieces -- about 1 inch x 1/2 inch and roll each one into a waxed paper rectangle, twisting both ends -- then toss it into the bowl. Repeat until done...usually about one movie's time. Great family activity or special time with a friend.
The gift of time and love
You can serve in pretty candy dishes at parties...or wrap in small boxes as personal gifts. My friends look forward every year to getting Grammmie's Christmas Caramels!
