Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels - this one's for Mary...

(posted by Heather)

If you have access to a Trader Joe's and are unfamiliar with TJ's Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels - SHAME ON YOU! But then again - that just leaves more of them for those of us in the know... Even when those of us in the know live far, far away from TJ's. And are down to our last 2 caramels with no real plan/way to get more anytime soon...

Anyway - these candies are so good they are evil. Straight from Hades and the end to any reasonable eating plan but also TOO GOOD TO GIVE UP.

Although they are quite good fresh from their package, we keep ours in the freezer because I do think they are a bit better frozen. Furthermore - the appropriate serving size is 2, unless you come across a batch of particularly small caramels and then the serving size is 3-4. Under no circumstances - even if the caramel is quite large - is the serving size ever 1. And it certainly isn't ever less than one - even though Ms Mary knows some weirdo who cuts her caramels into quarters and only eats one quarter. That's just sick & wrong and frankly offensive.

Since I like mine frozen, from time to time I find that the caramels of the larger variety are a bit hard to eat frozen. I've come away with a sore jaw more than once... But not to worry as last night I came up with a solution and feel the need to share.

If you put the frozen caramel in the microwave for 5 - 15 seconds (depending on the size of your caramel and the strength of your microwave) - you will end up with a melted core that allows you to bite into the caramel but also keeps the lovely firm & frozen texture... Heaven.

And that's all I have to say about that.