Caramel Slice

Yes!  Another recipe!  This is one I have been trying to make practically since we moved here and finally found one that works.  They all tasted fine, except for the one the crust was awful.  Scraped the caramel and chocolate off and just ate those layers.  Would you believe I found it on the back of a Nestle chocolate melts bag?  Some of the best recipes in the world come off places like this-look at Nestle toll House choc chip cookies.  Nuff said about those!

Here's the recipe and my substitutions for you statesiders that just HAVE to give this a try.  I'm planning on making it when we come home in less than 2 months for the family BBQ.  Yummy!

Set oven to 350.
Crust:
1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup desiccated coconut (this is the dried, ground stuff, not flaked or shredded)
1/2 cup butter melted
Mix all together and press into the bottom of a 8x11 baking pan lined with baking paper
Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned.  Cool for 1/2 hour or so.

Filling:
2 cans sweetened condensed milk (I use the fat free.  As rich as this is, you need all the help you can get here)
1/4 cup butter
1/3 golden syrup (cane sugar product, similar to dark corn syrup.  Use what you can find)
Place in a medium saucepan and stir on low heat until everything is melted and smooth.  Pour over cooled crust.
Bake for 20-25 minutes at 300.  Directions say to use 350, but the edges burn and get really hard.  Low and slow-until the caramel layer is golden brown.  Cool for an hour.

Topping:
1 cup milk or semi sweet chocolate chips
2 T canola or vegetable oil (Don't use shortening here!)
Melt and mix until smooth, spread on top of the cooled caramel layer.

Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares or so to serve.  Super rich and tastes heavenly with a cup of hot coffee or tea or cold glass of milk.

OK, some tips to keep this going good.  I found that if stored in the fridge the chocolate layer gets too hard to cut and just shatters.  No bueno.  So, cover and store on the counter, or cut into pieces and store in a tightly covered container with baking paper between the layers.

I have to think that a creamy peanut butter layer would be an excellent substitute for the caramel.  Need to work on that one next, don't I!

On another kitchen note, I finally broke down and spent the $8.96 for an electric kettle.  Who knew it would fast become my favorite kitchen appliance?  Practically instant hot water for making coffee, oatmeal, cup o noodles, and pouring down the stinky sink!?  It really is the small stuff, isn't it!

I also received the materials for Ian's reading program.  He sounded out 10 words yesterday.  He also knows the silly songs to remind him of the sounds.  Crazy, but it works.  He seems to like it fine, but would rather be playing with his cars or legos.  Buck up baby, you're going to learn to read!

We all have the day off work and school tomorrow to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's birthday.  Happy Birthday Elizabeth!  Course the forecast is for plenty of rain so we may just have to take in a movie.  Lyle is also home this week-yay!  But travelling the next 3 weeks.  Boo!  2 more weeks until end of term holidays.  The kids are tired and cranky by the end of the week now, so ready for some sleeping in.

The girls and I went to see the Bolshi Ballet yesterday for our adventure.  We had second balcony seats, so the nosebleed of the ballet, but it was absolutely beautiful!  The dancers are so graceful and athletic.  It was 2 hours and felt like it was much shorter.  I could have watched all day!  We will all be going to the Queensland ballet next month and have better seats in a smaller venue.  Can hardly wait!