I'm in the midst of baking a package of treats to send to my fun and feisty 93-year-old grandma. The first is a recipe I got from my friend, Kristen. Kristen has made this for years and whenever she serves it I have a hard time refraining from devouring the whole bowl! I haven't made it for Grandma before, but I thought the flaky texture of the saltines would make it easier for her to eat than regular toffee. I hope it's sturdy enough survive the U.S. Mail service.
Saltine Toffee
Saltine crackers - enough to cover the bottom of a jelly roll pan
1 cup butter
1 cup light or dark brown sugar
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (or a mix of semisweet and milk chocolate)
3/4 cup chopped nuts, optional (I didn't use)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a jelly roll pan, and line pan with saltine crackers in single layer.
In a saucepan combine the sugar and the butter. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Immediately pour over saltines and spread to cover crackers completely.
Bake for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top. Let sit for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate. (If desired, top with chopped nuts.) Cool completely and break into pieces.
I'm also making her favorite holiday treat, which she said she hides from her company. It originally was given to me by a Bunco friend, and the name was "White Trash." I don't love the name, so I drizzle it with red and green to make it "Holiday Trash." This is one of those recipes that I change depending on what cereals and nuts are in the cupboard.Holiday Trash
2 cups Crispix cereal
2 cups small pretzels
2 cups cocktail peanuts
2 cups M&Ms
White melting wafers -- about 1 1/4 pounds
1 tablespoon shortening
A handful of red & green melting wafers, plus a little shortening for each
Mix together cereal, pretzels, peanuts, and M&Ms. Melt wafers and shortening in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth. Pour over rest of ingredients and stir. Put on baking sheet and let cool. Break apart. Drizzle with red and green melts individually, cooling between colors.