Don't just go out touching any old thing you read about in some random blog!!
Yeah, see these seeds...
...the beauties from the previous post.
This may be the one time when I should have done some research and didn't for lack of time.
Here is what I found out after hearing from two people that these are poisonous.
"A chemical in the plant called cycasin is toxic and often causes permanent liver damage as well as neurological damage if enough of the poison is absorbed by the body. "
Don't worry we are all fine here. We didn't choose to gnaw on them or make special soup stock hoping for a gorgeous orange color to thrill us. Just looked at 'em and planted 'em.
So please people do your research before you go eating random things from your neighbors yard okay??
Seriously though, dogs sure do love to chew on anything and everything...and this would be one of those things to keep away from them.
Now on to another even more serious note!!!
I must caution you not to attempt to make caramel apples at the precise moment you begin to crave them especially when it is after 7 in the evening and you have no prior experience with making caramel apples.
I must also warn you that those simple clear cellophane wrappers on the caramel of death squares that I bought are so frustrating to get off of the candy that I almost gave up the whole project before it was even partially underway.
Luckily though I didn't have to, seeing as how I did in fact spring for one bag of caramel bits.
I snickered at this convenience wondering just who is so lame as to not be able to open those simple little cellophane wrappers. Really!!!
Get the bits, trust me on this.
If you are gonna buy caramel
...which for the most of you,
I know you are, 'cause you roll your eyes at me when I talk about making my own at home,
just pay the extra .50c and buy the bits!!
See, it says it right there on the package but I was too stubborn and proud to pay heed.
"Unwrapped for easy melting" yeah, yeah...I see it now.
I must also advise you to warn your immediate family that you are in fact heating bits of caramel and chunks of caramel in the same bowl and that no you haven't lost your mind and put in a can of beanie weenies to heat!!
I guess behind the door of the microwave, while rotating this could be mistaken for beanie weenies.
But why in the world would I have that at my house and why would I be heating it up at 7:45 at night after making a wonderful soup for supper??
You can't make stuff like this up, this is real life people.
I think maybe the only thing I got right about this entire process is getting the sticks into the apples.
Uhhhh, I actually didn't put the sticks into the apples, my son did.
I had high hopes and a sincere desire for lovely sweet and tangy caramel apples. I wanted it to happen instantly and I wanted to drizzle chocolate on them in beautiful long strands.
Ha ha hah ahahhhah ahahhhha.
You know how you can step into work on something but you just feel off!
I tend to ignore this sensation and press on.
I shouldn't have pressed on!!
See how I put the pretty apple at the front and the "oops why isn't that chocolate sticking and why is it running down and pooling on the wax paper" apple way in the back!?!
These were a disaster-ish experience.
I will hold off my final decision until after I have had the chance to taste one.
They are supposed to cool for about an hour and a half, which puts me eating death on an apple on a stick right around 10 pm!
What??? I ask you...feeling your strong accusation at such things.
It is a treat, not a part of a regular meal plan.
I don't have to justify my caramel apple issues to you!!
Oh....look at the time.
It is 10:02.
Guess that means I can go sample an apple now!!
teee hee heee hee.
Mmmmmm! Just what I wanted!
Please seek a caramel apple tutorial elsewhere as mine is not likely to be helpful...
...at all.
