Cracker Candy

Last year, while in the process of getting out of debt, I found this recipe for Cracker Candy and thought I'd give it a try.  It's a sweet and salty flavor with a crunch texture.  I like it a little too much!  The easy and quick recipe that I want to share with you is adapted from Frugal Mama.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
saltine crackers (a little less than 1 bag, 1/4 lb)
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Take a 9x13 pan, line it with parchment paper, and place it with the crackers evenly, not overlapping.  I did not use a whole bag (1/4 lb), for my 9x13 pan.  I've made it in the 10x15 pan before, but I think I like the 9x13 pan better, as it's easier for cleanup.

In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and sugar together.  Stir constantly to get the sugar dissolved.  Bring to boil over low heat; it won't take long at all!  Boil, stirring still, for 3 minutes.  (I have seen some recipes where they boil for 5 minutes.)

Quickly, pour the sauce over the crackers, as evenly as possible.

Place in oven for 5 minutes.   Then, sprinkle the chocolate chips over the "goop" and let melt a minute.  Then, spread the melted chocolate over the top of the candy, as best as possible.

Place in fridge for about an hour, until hardened, and break into pieces as big or as little as you'd like.

Sweet Sausage Calzones

You need two hands to eat these Sweet Sausage Calzones!  They are so soft, and sturdy; they won't fall apart on you.  I grew up on this bread recipe.  I love it!  I was on a hunt for a new recipe to use up some thawed sausage from the freezer; I am very happy with these.  You can do a different filling like with seasoned hamburger and shredded cabbage, if you'd like.  I have a feeling I'll be making more of these to fill my family for dinner and/or snacks!

Ingredients:

Dough
2 eggs
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup milk
41/2 - 5 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
2 packages of yeast

Filling
1 roll of ground sausage
1 diced onion
1 large red bell pepper diced
1/2 large green pepper diced
4 cups mozzarella cheese
oil
marinara sauce (optional)


Put wet ingredients into bread machine on dough cycle, followed by the dry.  Follow bread machine instructions, for order.  (I had to kinda help mix mine together at first, with all the flour involved.)  Let it rest only for 30 minutes, not for the full cycle duration, once the kneading is done.  Or the dough may explode on you! (Oh, no!)

Brown your sausage, onion, and peppers until fully cooked and browned.  Drain grease.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Once your dough is done, portion into 8 sections.  Roll out a section at a time, on a floured wax paper, for each calzone to fill.

Portion 1/3 cup of filling on 1/2 side of rolled-out dough.

Top with 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.

Fold other half of dough over the toppings.  Fold ends up, and then crease with a fork.  Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Prick each calzone to ventilate.  With a tablespoon, smear some oil over the top of each calzone.  

Bake in oven for about 9-10 minutes, until nice and brown.

Serve with your favorite marinara sauce or plain.