Salted Caramel Popcorn Apples - Perfect for Bonfire night!

It's Bonfire night tomorrow and I thought I would share a delicious sounding recipe which is perfect for this time of year...The Salted Caramel Popcorn Apples are so simple to make....

To make you need:

500g shop bought dairy toffees

50ml double cream

1/4 tsp good quality rock salt (crushed)

8 apples & 8 lollipop sticks

Metcalfe’s skinny Salted Caramel Popcorn

1. Wash the apples under a hot tap and dry completely (this will wash off any waxy residue that will prevent the caramel from sticking).

2. Place a lollipop stick in the top of each apple and then place a baking tray in the freezer to cool it, this will prevent pools of caramel at the bases of the apples.

3. Place the toffees and the double cream in a saucepan over a low to medium heat and continually stir until melted, combined and runny enough to coat the spoon, then add the rock salt and mix until dissolved.

4. Dip the apples in the caramel, coating as evenly as possible and allowing any excess to drip off before placing on your cooled baking tray that has now been lined with greaseproof paper.

5. Pop the apples in the fridge for a few minutes to allow the caramel to set slightly.

6. Pour a bag of Metcalfe's skinny Salted Caramel popcorn into a bowl and then either dip the apples into the popcorn to coat.

7. Allow to set in the fridge before serving.

And if you are feeling adventurous you can make the caramel from scratch....

You will need:

500g granulated sugar

125ml water

125ml double cream

1/4 tsp rock salt

1. Put the sugar and water in a clean saucepan and place over a medium heat.

2. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar has dissolved and stars to boil.

3. Remove the spoon and stop stirring whilst the sugar boils. You can swirl the saucepan to ensure it evenly caramelises.

4. When it reaches a deep amber colour and the bubbles have become really small on the surface of the caramel add your double cream whilst stirring at the same time. (This will bubble aggressively and create a lot of steam so keep your face away from the pan).

5. Stir in the salt then allow the caramel to cool slightly, it should thicken too.

6. Prepare & dip the apples in the same way as the other recipe.

I was sent some Metcalfe's Skinny Popcorn in exchange for sharing this recipe.

A fun and exciting week... #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

This week has been a bit of a different week for us. A good different...We have had a lot of fun and excitement. 

Over the weekend we carved our pumpkins and on Tuesday we of course went out Trick or Treating....I really didn't want to but there was no talking the kids out of it....They got dressed up and we went walking the streets and knocking on doors....We were out for about an hour and they got plenty of sweets...

I had been promising to take Ellie to soft play and was planning to go during half term but the day we had planned to go she didn't want to so we went on Wednesday after school....I thought it would be quiet but it was absolutely packed. We went straight from school and I'm glad we did. Half an hour after we arrived you couldn't get a seat.

Ellie's day and probably month was made....Her friend who she hasn't seen in a good few months was there. Life couldn't have got any better for her in those couple of hours...hehehe

The soft play cost £4.30 per child and we got a voucher for a free child's meal which would have cost us £3.75....I think we will be going again. What a bargain!

After soft play we had a look around B&M Stores....Oh my goodness. The kids gave me so many ideas about what they want for Christmas....I also saw quite a few things I want for my birthday. hehehe A wine glass the size of my head. Yes please....

I did do a good part of the Christmas shopping over the past week....I got a few bargains from Sports Direct. I have been seeing blog posts by people who have worked with them and the great toys they have. I spent about £60 and got quite a bit! There was Monster High dolls which Ellie is really into at the moment for £6. Elsewhere they are about £15.00 and Amazon took a good chunk of my money yesterday where I did a bit of shopping for Becky. Emoji things galore....lol

I got an email earlier in the week....One I had been waiting for from Tesco....All year I save my clubcard points and this year I have £72.50 in vouchers to go towards the Christmas food shop which will pay a good chunk of it! I can't wait to do the food shopping! 

Some of my favourite Advent Calendars for 2017...

It's that time of year where all the advent calendars are being advertised....The kids have a list of about 5 each that they want. There is so many available now....

If I had the money I would buy several for myself.... Now you can get them filled with just about anything. Not just the boring chocolate....

Smiggle Advent Calendar - £25.00

25 days of limited edition Smiggle stationery surprises! Find 1 of 25 lucky tickets inside & win a huge £500 shopping spree!

Zoella 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendar - £50.00 - Boots

This individually designed collection will brighten and accessorise your home and life. Discover 12 amazing and exclusive treats, from beautifully scented candles to stunning accessories, stationery, baking goodies and other special surprises.

Amazon beauty advent calendar - £50.00

Containing 24 mini versions of deluxe items including Molton Brown, essie, Rituals, Balance Me and Rimmel, it's worth over £185.

Aldi Wine Advent Calendar - £49.99

The £49.99 collection of wines (each bottle is 200ml) features both red and white wines including Merlot and Chablis. When you work out the cost per glass it comes to £2 which is a real bargain!

Kellogg's Advent Calendar - £4.00 - Tesco

Kellogg’s is launching a ’24 bowls til’ Christmas’ countdown calendar this year which will see all 12 of their variety packs hiding behind the doors. Every day, you’ll be surprised with either Corn Flakes, Coco Pops, Rice Krispies and more – plus a festive greeting.

Yankee Candle Advent Calendar Tealight Wreath - £19.99 - Temptation Gifts
Count-down to Christmas with this special Yankee Candle Advent Calendar. Every day reveals a Tea Light candle in one of 6 seasonal scents and a special treat on the 24th! Candle festive scents including The Perfect Tree, Spiced White Cocoa, Sparkling Cinnamon, Winter Glow, Snowflake Cookie and Macaron Treats.

Jelly Belly - Beanboozled Advent Calendar - £17.00 - Debenhams

24 windows with a pyramid bag of Jelly Belly beans behind each door with a special surprise on Christmas Eve. The perfect Advent Calendar for all Jelly Belly fans.

Cheese Advent Calendar - £8.00 - Asda
Each door has a different cheese variety and the options include Applewood, Mexicana and Jarlsberg.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Advent Calendar - £5.00
You'll be treated to a miniature Peanut Butter Cup behind each door - with a double dose of the white chocolate version on the 24th. Tesco, Sainsbury's, Lidl, B&M, Poundworld and Wilkinson's are among the retailers stocking the products.

Pringles advent calendar - £7.99 - B&M
This comes with twelve 40g tubs of the crisps, counting down the 12 days to Christmas.

Do you get an advent calendar for yourself?
Which one would you choose?

What I loved in October....

Another month has flown over...Since the kids went back to school in September time is flying. We've had the build up to Halloween, me still being in the Tots100, cosy nights with the heating on and curtains shut and half term.

Blogging friends.

The lovely Jayne who blogs at Sticky Mud & Belly Laughs put me forward for a gifting collaboration with ao.com. She didn't have to choose me but did and I am so grateful....I received a Dyson bundle and I have never vacuumed so much ever.....I will never use another brand again! 

Stranger Things.

I have read about it online so much and it has been on my list of things to watch but I never quite got around to it.....On Saturday night I started watching and after a few jumps at the beginning which nearly made me turn off I was hooked! It is such a fantastic show. Yesterday I finished watching it! Watching it all over a few days was great but now I'm guessing I have a long wait for the next series!

Blogtober17

In case you didn't realise as well as my normal blog posts I took part in the Blogtober17 challenge where the prompts were given by Hex Mum. There was some random posts from me during October but I enjoyed it. There was things I wouldn't have normally blogged about like how I love fresh flowers, what my girls love and good and bad secrets. It was great to find some new blogs to read....

Halloween.

I don't really care for Halloween but because of the kids we have done a few Halloween related things. Crafts, baking and of course carved some pumpkins. They love Halloween....

Idiot neighbours.

I don't love the idiot neighbours but I do enjoy the laughs the bring me....There is dumbo over the road who kept me awake all night arguing with people. The police eventually arrived and arrested him I think. I haven't seen or heard him since....Then there is the people next door who have had their Christmas decorations up for over a couple of weeks. Really! I love Christmas but that is too soon. Oh and they also had a firework party a couple of weeks ago...I thought there was a bomb going off in their back yard....I seriously think they are confused with their dates....lol

The support from school.

It applies to both my girls schools.....Some teachers are amazing. I have found some are more helpful than others but once you find the right one to talk to they go above and beyond to help. We had a parents evening for Ellie and it takes all my effort not to jump over the table and hug my girls teacher. She is just so ruddy lovely and supportive with Ellie's suspected autism...

What have you loved in October?