This Valentine's Day, instead of buying a box of chocolates for your loved one, make them! Experimenting with candymaking is super fun and simply rewarding. This recipe for chocolate caramels isn't difficult; you just need time and a candy thermometer. If you really want to get fancy, turn them into chocolate lollipops by placing a small stick into the ball before the final chilling. To take a look at the recipe, read more

Chocolate Dipped Caramels
From Southern Living magazine

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels
2 tablespoons shortening

1. Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat; cook 7 minutes, without stirring.
2. Stir in condensed milk, and bring to a boil; cook, stirring constantly, 10 minutes or until a candy thermometer reaches 245°.
3. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla. Pour into a lightly greased aluminum foil-lined 8- x 8-inch baking dish. Let stand 8 hours at room temperature.
4. Cut caramel into 1/2-inch squares, and shape into balls.
5. Melt chocolate and shortening in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat.
6. Dip balls into melted chocolate mixture; place on wax paper. Chill 8 hours.

Makes about 10 dozen.

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