Stitch Fix #6 - November 2013

I've recently become addicted to the Lifetime show - Million Dollar Shoppers and use Stitch Fix to pretend that I'm a fancy lady and have a personal shopper. Okay, there are a few differences.  I'm not as bitchy as some of those clients, though I am almost as picky. My splurge is when I spend $200 on a pair of heels, not ten thousand on a special occasion dress. Seriously, where do these people get all this money?  What kind of career change do I have to make to get in on that kind of lifestyle?

Moving on.  It's November already (how?) and that means it's time for another fix!  This month I asked for chunky sweaters and fall pants.  My stylist, Melanie, did a great job sending me some fun picks and even suggested previous SF items that I purchased to wear with these new things!  If you're totally lost and have no idea what I'm talking about, check out my review of Stitch Fix from a few months back.

THML - Aurinda Striped Back Colorblocked Sweater

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Cocomel Candy Bars

I have been going through a ton of sugar these past few weeks.  I've decided now is a good time of year to get back into candy making since it is the biggest candy eating season of the year! I need to head to the grocery store and stock up on sugar when it goes on sale.

Today we have a combination of two of my favorite candies - caramel and coconut!  These were not a good candy for my braces.  Shh, don't tell my orthodontist!  The coconut is crunchy and fluffy, while the caramel is smooth and sweet.  Just look at those little vanilla seeds dotting the caramel!  So adorable.

PS - these were delicious and totally worth the extra brushing.

One Year Ago: Visiting Montreal
Two Years Ago: Honey Roasted Peanut Butter Cookies
Three Years Ago: New England Cranberry Chutney

Cocomels

Adapted from Chocolate & Confections

For the Coconut layer

1 ounce (2 tablespoons) water
3 ounces (1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons) sugar
6 ounces (1/2 cup) corn syrup
8 ounces (2 cups) sweetened shredded coconut
1 ounce (1/4 cup) marshmallow creme

For the Caramel layer

1 ounce (2 tablespoons) water
4 ounces (1/2 cup) sugar
1/4 vanilla bean, split and scraped
3.5 ounces (1/3 cup) sweetened condensed milk
3 ounces (1/4 cup) corn syrup
1/5 ounces (3 tablespoons) butter, room temperature

1 pound chocolate

Coat an 8x8-inch pan with cooking spray and line with plastic wrap.

In a small 2-quart saucepan, combine water, sugar and corn syrup and clip on a candy thermometer.  Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the temperature reaches 246 ºF.  Remove from the heat and add coconut, stir until completely coated.  Add marshmallow creme and stir with a rubber spatula.  Pour candy mixture into the prepared pan and smooth out with an offset spatula.

Set a bowl of icey water next to the stove along with some spoons. In a 2-quart pot, combine water, sugar, vanilla bean, sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup and butter.  Stir while cooking over medium heat.  Clip on a candy thermometer and cook until temperature reaches 240 ºF.  Dip a spoon in the caramel mixture and plunge into the icey water for 5 seconds.  Test the caramel for hardness.  If it's still very liquidy, continue to cook until temperature reaches 245 ºF. Pour caramel over the coconut layer.  Let set for at least 2 hours.

Temper chocolate in a double boiler.  Once slab of candy is set, remove from the pan by pulling up on the plastic wrap.  Set on the counter, caramel side up.  Pour some of the tempered chocolate on top of the caramel and smooth out with an offset spatula.  Allow chocolate to set.

Flip candy slab over and peel off plastic wrap. Trim the edges so the slab is square.  Cut slab into 12 bars.  Place candy bars on a wire rack.  Pour tempered chocolate over the bars.  Garnish with extra shredded coconut if desired.  Once coated, move to a piece of parchment paper to set.

Wilde Week #35

1. I cancelled most of my subscription boxes after the layoff, all of them except Julep! I love it when that little box shows up in my mailbox. I'm a nail polish addict! This month I got Lola - a navy blue polish with a satin finish.  So pretty.

2. Am I the only one mildy obsessed with Million Dollar Shoppers?  These people are all crazy!  The shoppers, the clients, the people who work in the shops.  All completely nuts!  Who really pays $30,000 on a dress for one evening?  No wait, who pays $30,000 on clothes over the course of what, a few years?  And on another note, I want to dress like all of these crazy people.  So fabulous.

3. Along with apple picking, I also insist on carving pumpkins every fall!  I liked it when I was little though, my dad would cut open the pumpkin and take out all the gross stuff inside.  Now I have to do it myself!  Blegh!

4. I'm thinking of having Thanksgiving dinner next week.  The BF and I always head to Florida to visit his parents and travel on Thursday.  Due to our travel schedule (and the fact that the in-laws don't own any cooking supplies) we don't really get a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  I'm excited to have the smell of butter and onions wafting through the apartment!

5. With the above in mind, I'm thinking of trying out some new side dish recipes!  Maybe these Brussels sprouts, these stuffed mushrooms or this cranberry relish.  What are your favorite sides?

6. Okay, more TV complaining.  Why does NBC hate me all of us?  Did you notice they put Parks and Recreation on hiatus?  Something about wanting to get a bigger audience for the show Sean save the world.  With Parks & Rec and Community appearing and disappearing from the line-up, I have no idea what is going on in the plot.  And since I'm unemployed, I need lots of shows on the DVR to entertain me during the day.

7. This past Saturday the BF and I decided to do something a little goofy.  We grabbed lunch, a blanket and art supplies and headed to the park! Someone (not me) is very good at painting. How do you spend your weekends when you don't want to spend any cash?

8. I'm wanting to eat everything peanut butter and chocolate these days.  I think it's because I just bought a HUGE jar of peanut butter and I see it there in the pantry, asking to be made into these brownies, or blondies or these other brownies!