Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

My intuitive eating journey is still going really well.  I’m getting through the book quickly (it’s so informative and fascinating!) and I just feel, like I said before, so free.  Like Heather said, it’s great not to be a part of the clean your plate club anymore!

I’ve noticed that since I’m not always worrying about being healthy and what foods I should be eating, I’ve been a lot happier.  I’m not only thinking intuitively when I eat, but also in everything else I do.  The book, Intuitive Eating, gives tons of advice that can be related to eating and everyday life.  The authors write about taking deep breaths before beginning an act and taking a second to realize what you’re doing.  It really makes life more enjoyable when you’re more aware.  It personally helps me to be more grateful, too.  I just cannot say enough good things about this book!

The authors also write about not setting your goals for “perfect,” but instead being happy and respecting your body as it is now.  It’s kind of strange because I read that, and then I was in adoration on Friday, I read this quote from a book in the chapel:

“He who seeks perfection before action and labor will achieve nothing.” -Isaac the Syrian

Although Isaac was referring to praying, it’s true in every aspect of life.  This one’s tough for me to wrap my brain around because I’m definitely a perfectionist.  For example, all of my “healthy habits” started when I first set a goal to get abs.    I was soooo determined that I was going to get abs.  It’s kind of weird (but not really) that since I set that goal, I’ve actually gained weight instead.  If you’re starting a task or a diet or anything with the intention of being perfect, you’re just setting yourself up for failure.  Instead, try to be happy with what you’ve got and thankful for the things you do have instead of upset about what you don’t have and the rest will follow.

It might just be a coincidence (doubt it!), but lots of good things have been happening since I started this “journey.” For example, my Cake Batter Popcorn was featured on BuzzFeed yesterday.  How cool is that? A few other good things are in the works, too.  I really have nothing to complain about!

If you’re looking for more reading on intuitive eating, you should check out Tracy’s post: 10 Ways Intuitive Eating Could Make You Happier and Healthier.

Are you mindful in everyday tasks?  I know I certainly could still use some work on that! 

I made this homemade sweetened condensed milk because I ran out of regular sweetened condensed milk.  I realize it probably would have been easier to just run to the store, but I wanted to try making it.  It turned out pretty well.  I will say, it doesn’t exactly taste the same, but the texture and thickness is the same.  The taste is a little nuttier, probably due to the coconut milk.

coconut milk Condensed Milk

Homemade Coconut Milk Sweetened Condensed Milk

How to Make Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

Since I copied the recipe exactly, you can check out Detoxinista’s website for the recipe!

Healthy Sweetened Condensed Milk

Cracker Candy Bars

ritz cracker candy bars

Let’s be honest today:

Honestly,

1) I had no idea what I was doing when I started making these.  (Clearly…see photo below.)

chicken scratch candy bar recipe

2) I’m not really sure how I translated this recipe from that piece of paper, so if you try to make this and fail, I wouldn’t be surprised. (Kidding…but seriously, see photo above.)

3) I made these 3 weeks ago and I’m just now posting them.

4) I was barely able to tear myself away from Jodi Picoult’s new book (The Storyteller) to write this post.

jodi picoult the storyteller and a cup of coffee

5) Speaking of The Storyteller, I tried to make boule today because I wanted to be like the main character in the book.

6) I was too anxious to let the dough rise overnight like the recipe said, and, as you can imagine, I failed miserably and the bread is as dense as… a rock?

baking disasters, rock hard boule bread

7) I still ate the bread.

8) These are the best “candy bars” ever.  They should sell them in stores.  (Feel free to contact me, Hershey’s.)

the best homemade candy bars ever

candy made with ritz crackers

sweetened condensed milk candy bars

“Crack”er Candy Bars
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 

 

Ingredients
  • Crust:
  • 15 Ritz crackers, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • Filling:
  • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
  • ½ cup peanut butter
  • ½ cup chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Topping:
  • 20 Ritz crackers, crushed
  • ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix together crushed Ritz’ and melted butter and press into an 8×8 inch pan.
  3. Bake for 5 minutes. Take out of the oven and pour ½ cup sweetened condensed milk over the crust.
  4. Let cool while you make the rest of the filling.
  5. Melt the peanut butter, chocolate chips, and butter together in a microwave safe bowl. It should take about 1 minute.
  6. Take out and stir in the vanilla. Pour the mixture over the crust/sweetened condensed milk.
  7. Sprinkle crushed crackers over filling.
  8. Drizzle ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk over filling.
  9. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until top turns golden.

 

gifts you can bake for someone candy bars

White Chocolate Toffee Brownie Tart

tart5
I was feeling creative one day and I wanted to make something different than the stuff I normally bake.

So I grabbed the tart pan and went to work.  It ended up turning out similar to 7-layer bars, only better (in my opinion).

Imagine: a brownie layered with sweetened condensed milk and lots and lots of chocolate.

It’s super easy to make because it’s mostly layering, but I guarantee whoever you give this to will think you spent hours on it.

OH… and remember how I told you I got to see Colin Jost and Josh Wolf at a comedy show?  Here are the pics:

A li’l blurry… don’t care!

JEALOUS?!  They’re so hilarious.  If you ever get a chance to see them live, do it.  You won’t regret it.  Plus, they’re super nice… not stuck up at all, which I think is rare.

tart7
tart6

tart4

tart2

tart

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cups sugar
1 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup crushed toffee bits
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
  2. Whisk dry flour, salt and baking powder in bowl and set aside.
  3. Mix butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and cocoa in mixer. Gradually add flour mixture, and mix until smooth.
  4. Press dough into tart pan.
  5. Bake for 5 minutes.
  6. Take from oven and layer chocolate chips, toffee, and sweetened condensed milk.
  7. Return to oven and bake for 5-8 more minutes  until the edges are firm.
  8. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

tart3

B. Lovin’ It Bars

I love having this blog…a few days ago an old friend of mine that I haven’t talked to in forever sent me a message on Facebook:

“I had an awesome snack the other day, but I have no idea what it was exactly or how it was made. I think it had graham cracker crust on the bottom….& chocolate & peanut butter chips in it…& I THOUGHT come crumbled graham cracker crust on the top & ‘baked’ (it kinda looked that way, anyways…it was kind of brown-looking) coconut. I normally hate coconut, but it was amazing with that stuff & the texture didn’t bother me as much.
Anywho- I figured that since you’re into cooking & baking yummy-ness that you might either know what it is or how to do it…& if possible, I’d love it if you could put the recipe up so maybe I could attempt to make it some time.”
 
She’s sweet and I miss her so it was nice to hear from her!  I assumed that it was a bar called “Magic Bar” or “7 Layer Bar” that I’ve had before.  They’re sooo good and simple.  I made them and brought them into the store today and the guy I work with, Brandon Love, said they’re his favorite thing I’ve made so far; then he told me to name them after him… so here they are… The “B. Lovin’ It Bars”/ “Magic Bars”/ “7 Layer Bars”/ “The Bar of Many Names”.  Just for you Becca! :)
P.S. On a side note, Kellen is moving into his new house today, so wish him luck!!
 

 
Magic Bars


I made a couple changes to these bars so I’ll put my changes in red.  Also, you can leave out the nuts on some if you want.  I did!

Ingredients:

Yields 16 large bars
16 16

Servings Size

  • large cookies

    Update
  • 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, melted 
  • 1 cup graham crackers, crushed to crumbs (chocolate animal crackers)
  • 1 cup flaked coconut (organic flaked coconut)
  • 6 ounces chocolate chips (1 cup)
  • 6 ounces butterscotch chips (1 cup) (white chocolate chips, you could also use peanut butter chips)
  • 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (homemade sweetened condensed milk, but only because I was out of the canned stuff)
  • 1 cup nuts, chopped (walnuts)

  1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees F.
  2. Mix graham crackers crumbs (animal cookie crumbs) and melted butter until it becomes dough like.
  3. Press the “dough” into the bottom of your dish.
  4. Layer the coconut and chips in order given in ingredients list.
  5. Pour sweetened condensed milk over all.
  6. Top with nuts.
  7. DO NOT mix together.
  8. Bake for 25 minutes.