Homemade Crunch n' Munch and Tassimo Giveaway!

Homemade Pecan Crunch n' Munch

 
So it's been a really slow recovery with my back but I am darn near  100% back to feeling better! Yay! Just in time for Christmas. Although I have to say it was nice being able to snuggle in bed  catching up on all my reality shows like Bridalplasty and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills... you know all those earth shatteringly important programs that we pretend we don't watch. I want to take this moment to thank those who created the DVR.

THANK YOU DVR CREATORS!

Yesterday I was feeling kind of chipper and totally craving something sweet. I decided to make some crunch n' munch. I was happily puttering around the kitchen toasting some glorious pecan in butter. I whisked the saucepan off the stove and grabbed the pot behind it for the popcorn. It was then I realized that this dang pot was hot. Do yourself a favor. If you are toasting pecans in butter don't put a metal pot behind it because the heat transfers to said pot. I now have large blisters on 4 out of the five fingers on my right hand. Yippee Pippee.

Pecan Crunch n' Munch

Homemade Crunch n' Munch by Momma Cupcake

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2/3 cup corn syrup
• 1 cup butter plus 2 tbs divided
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups pecans
• 1 cup unpopped popcorn
• canola oil

1. In saucepan melt the 2 tbs of butter on high and add pecans, stirring constantly until pecans are fragrant. 
2. Set aside and let cool. 
3. In the meantime, preheat oven to 225 F.
4. Pop popcorn and then spread it out on a large cookie sheet. 
5. Fold pecans in popcorn and put in oven. 
6. In large sauce pan melt butter on high and add sugar, corn syrup, and salt stirring constantly until the color of the mixture becomes uniform.
7. Allow the color to change from a light brown to a even darker brown. Add vanilla and stir again constantly for 3 more minutes. 
8. Remove from heat and set aside. 
9. Remove popcorn mixture from oven. 
10. Add baking soda to the caramel constantly stirring (word of warning...its gonna expand rapidly) then pour over popcorn. 
11. Lightly toss until you have even coverage. 
12. Put popcorn in oven and let it bake for 45 minutes. 
13. Remove from oven and let it sit open to the air over night or until completely cooled. 
14. Enjoy!

Earlier in the week I got a delightful package from Tassimo that included the Tassimo Hot Beverage System. I had been eagerly awaiting this. My current coffee machine sits up on the top of my cabinets collecting dust. Why? Because my husband is the only one who really drinks coffee..but more than that. Anyone who has ever made it has left the stupid thing on until we have nothing but a burnt coffee stain on the carafe. It irritates me to no end. Nothing like the stench of burning coffee clinging to every surface of the house. $9.99 special...no timer or anything. But the Tassimo is awesome.  Mess free. No burning coffee. Oh it is heaven. AND its compact too. Since my husband has been ordered by the doctor to limit his coffee intake this is helpful since its single serve. It fits several different cup sizes. Not only does it make coffee but it also makes cappuccino, hot chocolate, latte, iced coffee, espresso and tea! Since I'm not a coffee drinker...this is great! Since I don't have a lot of counter space I was concerned that this would take up a lot of room. NOPE! Its minimal. Considering how many things this can make and how maintenance free it is...I would gladly make room for it. There is going to be a coffee machine donated to my local Salvation Army soon. Just think coffee drinkers...NO MORE STALE OR BURNT COFFEE!



The Tassimo is so easy to use. I let James demonstrate making a cappuccino. He did a great job didn't he lol.

Tassimo Hot Beverage Center as demonstrated by James.

 The generous folks at Tassimo want to share one of you lucky readers!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN YOUR VERY OWN TASSIMO HOT BEVERAGE SYSTEM??

REQUIREMENT:

Go to Tassimo's Facebook fan page and say thank you for this giveaway!

Then just let me know down in the comments below that you would love to win this! 

DISCLAIMERS AND ALL THAT JAZZ

* I received the Tassimo Hot Beverage System for review.

*giveaway ends January 1st..
* a winner will be drawn on January 2nd.
*the winner will be notified by email.
*the winner will have January 5th at midnight to the claim prize.
*if the winner doesn't respond by January 5th at midnight a new winner will be drawn and notified.
*U.S. only