I have discovered the Smitten Kitchen by way of her cookbook.  I did not even know about the blog!  Deb Perleman seems to be my kind of gal.  She is not a classically trained chef but, instead like me, just loves to cook and tweak recipes. There are so many yummy things in her cookbook I cannot wait to get started.  Well, actually I already got started last night with the caramel recipe and the granola recipe.

It is amazing how sugar transforms in the process of making caramels.  I have made caramel for my salted caramel ice cream but have never made stand-alone caramel candies.   Although tasty, I do not think I got to the required 260 degrees (I need a true candy thermometer!) because my caramel did not end up hardening enough after the two-hour cool down.  Alas, I will try again.  My granola, on the other hand, was delicious!