Caramel Apple Fun

We had some school friends over the other day to do caramel apples with us after school. Caramel apples, though messy, are the easiest things in the world to make. Just grab two bags of caramels from the store (one bag is never enough-I like my apples EXTRA carmelly- yes, that's a word- shutup spellcheck), unwrap the squares (unless you're lucky enough to have a grocery store that carries the caramel chips- I'm not), throw them into a saucepan with a couple teaspoons of water, and then stir the caramels over low heat until they melt. Poke the sticks (that come in the caramel bag) into the apples (granny smith, gala, and rome apples work better than red delicious and golden delicious) and then hold apple over saucepan and spoon caramel over apple until sufficiently covered. Place apple on small sheet of wax paper and continue until you have your desired amount of apples. We like to have decorating stuff ready on the table for the kids to decorate their apple while the caramel is still warm (so the toppings stick). We have chopped pecans, candy corn, and melted chocolate to drizzle in separate bowls on the table with spoons for each child.

Troy, snacking and decorating... There's no other way to do it!
Felix being a ham, of course.

Silas and Toby had a lot of fun (and made a lovely mess) making their apples and eating them.

Toby with a kiss of chocolate on his mouth, adding the finishing touch on his apple.

My new friend, Candace, loving that I took her picture while eating the be-caramelled jewel.

Really, can a flattering picture be taken of someone eating a caramel apple? I think not. But it sure was good.