Caramel Apples {cute as a button}

So did I tell you I started a Hip Hop class Tuesday nights? Well I did, and it is awesome and I think I might try out for SYTYCD next year {joke, huge, huge joke}

You know, I think for me, it's really the exercise that does my diet and staying fit plan in. It really just opens up a whole new can of rationalization, which is the last thing I need. It's like my brain {and stomach} say, 'Hey Nat, you rode the kids to school on the bike, good on ya mate, you should have dessert now ...And after that eat a cookie, because you've been really good today'

Lately, every night, I've been craving a treat. And when I say lately, I'm talking like the last 27 years... and not just at night. But recently I've been doing a lot of fruit dipped in fondue. As I mix up that cream and choc, I think to myself, which way will it have less calories, with more choc, or more cream. I mean how pathetic is that? When you're asking yourself if adding cream will lighten the dessert?

Here's another list that might indicate you have a treats problem:

1. Your having guests over for dinner, you are making dessert, despite the fact that the recipe does NOT call for nuts, you add them in, hoping against hope someone is allergic to nuts so you can eat theirs when they leave

{they weren't, dang}

2. Your husband has an indoor soccer game, so you think it's a great time to eat 1 1/2 cartons of strawberries dipped in chocolate fondue so he doesn't see and so you don't have to share. He comes home early, and you were just about to eat them. You hide them, wondering what to do, then he gets a call from work to run in for 15 minutes. Saved! You wait until he's gone, eat them all, and hide the evidence

{...check, did this Thursday night}

3. You like to chase down your cookie with a side of berry crumble and top that off with a smidge of Homemade Almond Toffee

{done this too many times to count}

Okay, I know I'm pretty fit, so your probably hating me right now that I have some kind of magic metabolism or serious eating disorder. As much as I joke, I really, REALLY work on my addiction and just try to do all things in moderation. I try to limit myself and make sure that I get my nutrients in, which is why I add flax and whole wheat flour to everything and cut down the butter and sugar by half. I try to eat healthy, balanced meals so that I can splurge a little for dessert. I just know I'm going to eat a treat at some point, so I better plan my day for that. And if I have a day that I go crazy, I better work extra hard for 3 days after that! That's my secret, sorry, no magic.

Okay, on to splurging. These are so wickedly good it's just plain sick -in the good way. Not gonna lie, they take some effort and time and ingredients. SO Worth it. I packaged them up all cute with some button flowers my friend Courtney makes. Aren't they adorable?!

Caramel Toffee Apples

Homemade Caramel

Homemade Almond Toffee

Dark, Milk, and or White Chocolate

Walnuts

Apple sticks or use chopsticks like I did if you can't find enough even though you swear you have a gazillion of them somewheres...


I make my own homemade caramel, and I have an awesome recipe here. It is tricky to get it just right, to where it isn't too hard or soft. For caramel apples I under cook it by a few minutes. Don't know the temp because I've never used a candy thermometer. I just KNOW, you know. It's a gift.

From there I make the homemade toffee, score some for later, and take a big chunk and smash it to bits.

Melt some chocolate in separate dishes if using different kinds, and have some chopped nuts ready to go.

While the caramel is warm {you can reheat it if it goes cold} dip into the caramel and rolls it around, getting it covered just right. You may need to use your hands or another utinsel to smooth it perfectly.

Roll into toffee bits and nuts. Take a spoon and dip it into chocolate and drizzle it while you spin the apple.

Set onto a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Set in the fridge or somewhere cold to set {unlike I did, I was burning daylight by the time I was done!}

Wrap in parchment or waxed paper and tie with ribbon or a button flower to make a way cute gift for friends or family or whoever. Or since I like something pretty and shiny, I'll wrap it up for myself.