Caramella...Caramello. Christmas gift # 2

"Would anyone like a caramel?", I asked my dinner guests.

"A what?", a guest said.

"Caramel"

"Don't you mean 'Kar-mul'?"

"No, 'kar-a-mel'."

Potato and tomatoes. Everyone has their way of saying things. I quite enjoy my pronunciation of the word,mmk?

Caramel Squares
Adapted from this recipe

2 Cups Heavy Cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon kosher salt

1. Prepare a 10x10 pan by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Combine the cream,condensed milk,and salt in a small saucepan, and place the saucepan on a burner set to the lowest heat setting. You want the milk and cream to be warm, but do not allow it to boil.

3. In a medium-large saucepan combine the corn syrup, water, and granulated sugar over medium-high heat. Stir the candy until the sugar dissolves, then use a wet pastry brush to wash down the sides of the pan to prevent sugar crystals from forming and making the candy grainy.

4. Insert a candy thermometer and reduce the heat to medium. Allow the mixture to come to a boil and cook until the thermometer reads 250 degrees F.

5. Add the softened butter chunks and the warm milk-cream mixture. The temperature should go down about 30 degrees .

6. Continue to cook the caramel, stirring constantly so that the bottom does not scorch. Cook it until the thermometer reads 248 degrees F, and the caramel is a beautiful dark golden brown.

7. Remove the caramel from the heat and immediately pour it into the prepared pan. Do not scrape candy from the bottom of the saucepan. Allow the candy to sit overnight to set up and develop a smooth, silky texture.

8. When you are ready to cut the caramel, place a piece of waxed paper on the counter and lift the caramel from the pan using the foil as handles. Flip the top of the caramel onto the waxed paper and peel the foil layer from the bottom of the caramel.

9. Spray a large knife with nonstick cooking spray. Firmly cut into the caramels, creating 1” squares. Wipe the blade and re-spray as necessary.

10. Wrap the squares in waxed paper. The caramels will gradually spread and lose their square shape if not wrapped soon after cutting. Alternately, you can dip them in chocolate once they are cut.

11. Store the caramels at room temperature for up to two weeks.