Come Thanksgiving, and every little thing is a whirlwind of occasions, celebrations and events. The truth that my birthday is in early December provides to it. To not point out the yearly custom of attending the Handel’s Messiah live performance by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Ginger caramels have grow to be a favourite with my sons at the moment of yr, so I assumed it was time to submit the recipe right here on the weblog.
Making wreaths with Shelby and Ruby Moon Flower Farm
The younger ones at Thanksgiving
One of many utensils you’ll need for ginger caramels (or for any kind of caramel) is a sweet thermometer. I recommend you get one in case you plan on making caramels, as a result of they’re not costly, and so they take the guesswork out of reaching the fitting consistency in your caramels —not too comfortable, not too arduous, excellent.
Thanksgiving 2025 at residence
Turkey day!


After I was youthful, the yr felt like an eternity, the time between one birthday and the subsequent was very lengthy. But it surely looks like, as I become old, Thanksgiving and Christmas occur once I nonetheless have recollections of the earlier ones. It’s not a great or a foul factor, it’s simply an commentary. Time passes extra shortly. It seems like we simply celebrated Thanksgiving, however Christmas is correct across the nook.
And in between, I celebrated my birthday with various get-togethers. Wreath making with Shelby below the course of Kari from Ruby Moon Flower Farm was quite a lot of enjoyable, and I’m nonetheless dreaming of the apple kuchen that Betsy made for me (a favourite of Saint John Paul II and now a favourite at this home as effectively!). Eating out with Dave is all the time a deal with, and so it was this time. Some individuals don’t like birthdays, however I like with the ability to depend yet one more.
Snow in November!
Stunning wreaths by Ruby Moon Flower Farm


One other birthday celebration!

The Haendel’s Messiah live performance is a Christmas custom —carried out by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Choir
Christmas occasion!
Our household celebrations have developed through the years. We’ve got celebrated Thanksgiving with our associates since our youngsters had been toddlers, and now they’re grown ups —a few of them married, a few of them anticipating youngsters, a few of them dwell overseas and others in numerous states. But Christmas appears to be (fortunately!) the time once we all lastly reunite. It’s a really busy time at our home, significantly as I attempt to make all of the sweets and dishes everybody likes and don’t get pleasure from through the yr. However I additionally wish to experiment with one or two new recipes. Whether or not it’s fabada asturiana, with the true beans from Asturias introduced by considered one of my youngsters, or private beef Wellingtons, or pulpo a la gallega, octopus with potatoes Galician fashion, yearly there’s a brand new recipe to get pleasure from.




I began making ginger caramels final yr and so they had been so successful that they’ve grow to be a part of the yearly repertoire. There may even be at our Christmas desk the conventional Spanish Christmas treats that Ethan will carry from Miami, turrón and polvorones, and the Nanaimo bar , yuletide log (tronco de Navidad) and mince pie that I make yearly (test these recipes right here and right here.)
As we get nearer to the festivities and the Nativity celebrations, I need to want you a contented one with your loved ones and associates. This is likely to be my final submit of the yr, so I additionally want you a 2026 of well being, prosperity and peace on the planet.
Merry Christmas!






GINGER CARAMELS
Caramelos con gengibre
- 2 cups whipping cream
- 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/3 cup chopped candied ginger
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Butter the baking pan. Line it with parchment paper, leaving sufficient to hold over the sides to have the ability to raise it later.
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In a heavy backside saucepan, mix the cream, sugar, butter and syrup and warmth at medium warmth. Prepare dinner, stirring, till the sugar has been dissolved. Cut back the warmth to medium-low and proceed to cook dinner, stirring often till the combination adjustments colour to darkish golden and thickens barely. I favor to make use of a sweet thermometer and take away the saucepan from the warmth supply when the thermometer reads 248ºF. It can take anyplace from 30 to 45 minutes.
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Stir within the sea salt, vanilla and chopped ginger. Pour the combination into the 9×12 pan. Let relaxation at room temperature in a single day.
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The following day, raise the caramel out of the pan and place on a slicing board. Reduce the caramels any dimension you want —mine are about 1×2 inches. Wrap them in minimize to dimension wax paper.
I retailer the caramels in a cookie tin and so they final for weeks —however they are going to almost definitely be consumed earlier than!
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