What I love most about the Holidays is being able to spend time with the ones I care about most.
Which means I am not interested in spending countless hours in the kitchen cleaning up sticky messes, and stuck on food. We all know that I am always looking for the easiest way to do things, and this Holiday is no different. I’ve got my secret weapon that I’ll use to ensure that all my recipes come out right the first time and I’m not left cleaning up a mess in the kitchen and missing the party.
So what’s my secret weapon? PAM Cooking Spray!
I love using this handy non-stick cooking spray to save me precious time AND valuable ingredients while making my recipes.
Take these Honey Salted Caramels for instance…
Have you ever tried to measure out 1 cup of honey? You almost never get every drop of honey back out of the measuring cup, which can result in a recipe FAILURE!
When it comes to making your Holiday recipes – every. drop. counts.
Solution – use PAM! 🙂
Simply spray the inside of your measuring cup with a little bit of PAM Cooking Spray, and watch the honey come sliding right out.
Every. Last. Drop.
Isn’t that neat!?
This trick works for any sticky substance – corn syrup, maple syrup, agave nectar, etc.
Not only can you use PAM to coat the inside of your measuring cup, I even used it to coat the inside of the pot I made these Honey Salted Caramels in! After my 3rd attempt of perfecting this recipe, and seeing all that leftover caramel sticking to my pot, a light bulb went off. Spray the pan with PAM too!
Did you know that PAM Cooking Spray leaves up to 99% less residue buildup than margarine or bargain brand cooking sprays, while still offering superior no-stick results? Winning!
Plus their formula contains zero calories, so no worries on that end!
Making Caramels can be a teensy-bit intimidating, but I’ve taken step by step pictures to show you how simple it can be.
There are a couple things you’re going to need to make sure you get perfect results: A candy thermometer and PAM.
Start by tracing around a 9×9 or 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper, leaving 1 inch on each side. Cut and place the parchment paper inside the pan, then spray lightly with PAM Cooking Spray.
Make sure you have all your ingredients out and ready to go because the process can go quickly if you’re not prepared.
Spray the inside of your pot (I used a 3 quart size pot) with PAM Cooking Spray to make sure you get all your caramel out later on.
Spray the inside of the measuring cup that you’re going to use for the honey, and get that ready to go!
Melt the butter over medium high heat, reduce heat to just over medium and then add the cream, honey and brown sugar.
Give it a little whisking to break up any brown sugar that is being stubborn.
Attach the candy thermometer to the side of your pot, making sure to NOT let it touch the bottom of the pan (if it does it can give you an inaccurate reading).
Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat again to just below medium.
The caramel mixture will rise and bubble rapidly, but just let it do it’s thing. Don’t stir it.
We are trying to bring the caramel slowly up to 250 degrees F, while still set just below medium heat. This process should take around 30-40 minutes. Hang out nearby, grab a magazine, play Candy Crush, surf Facebook… just don’t go too far cause you want to keep an eye on the temperature.
You’ll notice you’re getting close because the caramel mixture will reduce in size. Once it reaches 250 degrees remove it from the heat.
Carefully add the vanilla and use the end of your thermometer to gently stir the caramel. Pour the honey caramel into your prepared pan. Use caution because it’s EXTREMELY hot!
Let your caramels sit and come to room temperature. I set mine on a cooling rack by an open window to speed up the process.
Once it’s cool you can sprinkle it with coarse or flaked sea salt.
This caramel is a very soft caramel at room temperature. It’s best when stored in the fridge. So once they are at room temperature throw them in the fridge for at least 3 hours before cutting into pieces and wrapping with wax paper.
I could not be more happy with these sweet little caramels.
The touch of sea salt on top really brightens the flavor of the honey.
I love wrapping these tiny morsels in wax paper and keeping them in the fridge for when friends or family come to visit.
It’s the perfect way to let them think I slaved all day in the kitchen for them… when really, it was a snap thanks to PAM! (and this crazy awesome tutorial…)
So tell me…
What’s your favorite holiday “time-saving” tip??
(giveaway closed)
What secrets do you have that allow you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your loved ones? Your answer could win you a $100 Visa gift card! Wouldn’t that just be perfect for the upcoming holidays?! Imagine… $100 and some Honey Salted Caramels… life couldn’t get any better! 😉
Honey Salted Caramels
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup honey
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Be sure to have all ingredients measured and ready to go before starting.
- Line an 8x8 or 9x9 baking pan with parchment paper, so that it comes up 1 inch on all sides. Lightly spray with PAM Cooking Spray. Set aside.
- Spray a 3 quart size pot with PAM Cooking Spray, add the butter and melt over MEDIUM-HIGH heat.
- Add the honey, cream and brown sugar. Stir gently with a whisk. Reduce heat to JUST ABOVE MEDIUM.
- Attach your candy thermometer to the side of your pot, making sure that it does not touch the bottom of the pan.
- Once the mixture starts to boil, reduce the heat to JUST BELOW MEDIUM, and let it simmer there for 30-40 minutes until it reaches 250 degrees F.
- Remove from heat, add the vanilla and use the candy thermometer to gently stir it in. Carefully pour the caramel into the prepared pan. Let cool until room temperature and then sprinkle with the sea salt.
- Place in fridge and let chill for at least 3 hours before lifting parchment out of pan and cutting into small pieces. Wrap pieces in wax paper and store in fridge. Enjoy!
Nanaimo Cheesecake
joni
https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/417190254609563648
joni
I prepare as much as I can the night before–less chopping the next day.
soha molina
https://twitter.com/sohamolina/status/417168465943093248
soha molina
Try to cook ahead as much as you can.
Margaret Smith
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/417148122985267202
Margaret Smith
We love baking cookies for gifts for friends and family. A few weeks before Christmas, we prepare large batches of dough that we freeze. Then a few days before Christmas, we start to cook the cookies with the dough that we previously made. The prep time is cut out and so is most of the clean up time and the cookies come out the same.
tina reynolds
https://twitter.com/eaglesforjack/status/417138151442755584
Tamar
My best tip is getting help in the kitchen for prep!
tina reynolds
layout everything before make sure too give your self plenty of prep space
HilLesha
I have others in the household help out in the kitchen to reduce the stress from cooking and baking. It’s all about teamwork. 🙂
Rosanne
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/rosannepm/status/417132669177454592
Rosanne
I buy a lot that is frozen and ready to make as I’m tired of cooking with all the people here for the holiday
CharityS
I always use simple holiday recipes.
Sue Barney
Have all my supplies on hand , prep as much as possible beforehand, and I make my cookie dough at the end of November and freeze it so its ready when I am 🙂
Stephanie Larison
Prep what you can before the big event. There’s lots of things that can be made up or cooked beforehand, and fixed up later!
Mendy Dinsmore
http://twitter.com/mendyd/status/417099017852829696
Mendy Dinsmore
I get my family to help with chores before the crowd arrives.
Erica C.
Have all ingredients out before you start!
Kelly D
tweet
https://twitter.com/kellysaver/status/417098059609174016
Kelly D
My best tip is to do the prep work ahead of time, like the chopping of fruits and veggies, to save time on the day you have to cook. Or you can even buy them already chopped at the Supermarket sometimes.
Ellie W
tweet
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/417089874492026880
Ellie W
My favorite holiday smart cut is: I shell pecans and walnuts all year long and freeze them. For holiday baking I just grab a bag from the freezer. Saves time and saves a lot of money by not having to buy shelled nuts at Christmas time.
jessica
I prebake as much as I can and clean the kitchen as I bake so I can spend time with the family
Natalie
I assemble as many dishes ahead of time as possible and them bake them the day I will eat them.
Lauren-Olivia Wood
Prep all ingredients ahead of baking or cooking!
Kiara
I prepare everything ahead of time.
austma7@aol.com
Stephanie V.
plan and prep the night before – key to success! Use Pam for all of my baking needs – cookies and cupcakes!!
tvollowitz at aol dot com
leah p.
I clean up the kitchen as I go so it never gets too messy!
Francine Anchondo
I like to use parchment paper and Pam for my cookies .
DanielM
plan ahead and make sure you have all the ingredients
Sunshyn V
I tweeted this
https://twitter.com/The_Sunshyn/status/417051186177384449
Sunshyn V
The closer we get to the holidays, the crazier things get so we try to bake and cook some things in advance then freeze them.
Theron Willis
Put a ham in the oven and walk away. No fuss.
kathy pease
https://twitter.com/klp1965/status/417039160050864129
kathy pease
My daughter and I help each other baking goodies and with dinner itismorefun with a loved one and a lot less work 🙂
Erica Best
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/416640351437197312
Erica Best
when i make dressing i used the blender i add chicken stock and all the vegs and they are small so noone knows whats in it lol
Shannon Baas
I make as much as I can in advance.
Cindy Merrill
Easy Holiday breakfast turnovers: Roll out canned biscuit dough, cut into squares, place a sausage patty on each square, add shredded cheese, maybe a spoonful of scrambled egg. Fold cross ways, spray baking pan with PAM, cook 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Sherry Conrad
https://twitter.com/dddiva/status/416979989113098240