Today I planned on making tomorrow night’s dinner as well as tonight’s.  I also planned on learning more about blogging and widgets, gathering hazelnuts and walnuts, baking something special, making salted caramel popcorn, doing some banking and picking up a few groceries.  Things have not gone as smoothly as planned.

     I have not started either of the dinners, tomorrow’s or tonight’s.  I have learned a little bit about blogging but still do not have the widget thing down.  I keep getting lost in other sites about interesting widgets, but not the ones I am supposed to be learning about.  I did gather nuts but haven’t baked anything.  I just ran to the bank and grocery store as well as the drugstore. Actually, when I compare my list of what I wanted to do and what I have done it is not really that different.

     Why do I feel like I haven’t accomplished anything then?  Do you ever feel that way?  Now that I think about it I actually did a lot more than was on my list.  I went to the gym at 6:30am, dropped my car off for service at 8am, had coffee on the beach at 8:15am, talked to my Dad on the phone, made a Dr appointment, called the medical insurance company and called Apple (again) to see when my cell phone replacement will be here.  It has only been 8 days!  Geesh. I also chopped some wood and walked to the mailbox to check the mail.

     I guess what is really bugging me is that I still have a couple things on my list and I thought I would be done by now.  Honestly, it is amazing that we can work and still manage our phone calls, emails and appointments.  Hmmm.  Maybe it is a blessing that I don’t have a cellphone right now.

     Anyway, what I really want to share today is the Salted Caramel Popcorn recipe and photos.  I am not big on Caramel Corn but honestly, this is soooo good.  My parents are coming for dinner tomorrow night and I really want to give some to my Dad as a gift.  He loves caramel corn and I am sure my Mom could satisfy her sweet tooth with it as well.  

      I started off by popping the popcorn last night.  I use a plain old paper bag and organic popcorn kernels that I get at Nature’s Fare.  I put 1/2 cup in a lunch bag size bag and hit the popcorn setting on the microwave.  It works perfect.  If I do happen to have some unpopped kernels I just put them back in the bag and and pop them with the next batch.  

     I found the recipe at Crunchy Creamy Sweet . It was interesting that after the caramel is poured over the popcorn it gets put in the paper bag and microwaved.  This method really works.  All the popcorn gets nicely coated with the caramel and then it is not necessary to bake it in the oven.  

     I tweaked the recipe slightly by melting Callebeaut dark chocolate and then drizzling it over the caramel coated popcorn.  I also added pecans, hazelnuts, almonds and cashews.   Mmmmmmmm. Delic!  Perhaps today was rather productive.