LAZY TURTLE BARS - It's been a long time baby!

Okay, can I say I am sorry for being away so long?  It was really very hectic around the holidays and I was working on home made goodies, and hand made goodies.  Problems with one of the furry kids too. 

Since I have ignored you terribly I feel I must (oh I MUST) give you my latest easiest confection recipe that I gave out this Christmas.

It was sort of odd the way it came about.  I was going to make turtles and I was having a terrible time getting those wrapped caramels.  Even my dear hubby Chris was searching for them every time he had to go into a store. 

He hit pay dirt with these new caramel melts.  They are round little balls that actually warm up quite nicely in a double boiler or a heavy bottom pan.  So, if you find these pick some up.  They were so easy to use, I didn't spend an hour (okay, it didn't take an hour, it just felt like it) unwrapping caramels, getting a sticky mess on my  fingers.  Now...I had all the ingredients I needed!

But, it was right before the giving of our goodie baskets!  I wanted to do something since I had the ingredients, but it had to be something quick.

So, here is the recipe....in time for Easter, yeah, that's the ticket...Easter!

LAZY TURTLE BARS

Take a sided cookie sheet (one of those sheets that can also be used to make a jelly roll) and cover entire pan, including going up all the sides.  Spray the foil with a butter flavor non stick spray.  Do not skip this part, otherwise you will have a dickens of a time getting these bars out of the pan!!!  Remember foil, non-stick spray a must.  If you do not do this, you will have to put your cookie sheet over a top of boiling water to get the bottom to loosen (and get sticky) in order to get them out...and they don't look pretty!!!  Learn from my experience.

2 bags of caramel melts
1 bag of chocolate chips (semisweet or milk chocolate) 12 ounces
3-4 cups of pecans (the more the better for my liking)

Melt the caramel over low heat until smooth.  If it get's a little too thick add a bit of cream

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, it tells you how on the packages (only if you are comfortable with that, or else use a double boiler)

In prepared pan, line the bottom with a boat load of pecans.  If you want to press them down to break them a bit to get good coverage, go for it.

Next, spread the caramel over the pecans.  You do not have to wait for the caramel to set up, because believe me it will set up as soon as you stop spreading.

Finally, take the melted chocolate and spread over top, making swirls and curls along the way. 

Now this is a trick I use to help me cut.  Once the chocolate is a bit solid, but not completely, I will score the chocolate so I know how to cut.  It helps me keep the pieces nice and even and I am not guessing as  I lay the knife down.  What can I say, what may look good before I cut can look terrible after the cut.  So, this is a cheat which also allows me to see how many pieces I am getting out of the batch.  I usually cut in a about 1 inch square, using a ruler as my scoring guide.

Take the pan and put it in either the refrigerator on in a dry cool space until it is completely set up. Here in New England, our 3 season porch becomes the "cold storage" room up until Christmas.  Candy making day, the porch is covered with confections galore.

On a cutting surface flip the pan over, remove the foil and turn it right side up again.  This can be a bit tricky, but it does look nicer.

Lay a large knife down in the scored chocolate (one of those Pizza rocker knives works well too) and press firmly, cutting through all those delicious nuts.

Keep in an airtight container (I always use tins, which I hoard just for my candy making projects).

I wrapped them in a tower using those candy bags you can get just about any where that Wilton products are sold.  I also tie up in a string.  If you are more festive curly ribbon looks very nice too.  They stack well because they are pretty solid and not messy until they are in your hands for a minute, but in this house they don't stay in your hand for a minute! ;-)

Because you scored so nicely, they stack beautifully.

These are so easy to make and so yummy.  Enjoy!

Until next time stay warm, stay safe
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