sweet essentials: homemade caramel sauce

How To Make sweet essentials: homemade caramel sauce

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  Step 1
  PREP/PREPARE
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  Step 2
  Gather your ingredients.
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  Step 3
  Cut the butter into cubes, and reserve.
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  Step 4
  Add the sugar to a large saucepan over medium heat.
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  Step 5
  When you see the sugar begin to melt, use a spoon to stir the mixture.
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  Step 6
  Chef’s Note: The time it takes to begin the melting process, can be from 5 to 10 minutes. Be patient, and keep an eye of that sugar… you don’t want it to burn.
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  Step 7
  Chef’s Note: Some people begin the process of making caramel by adding some water to the sugar… That’s cheating. Let the sugar melt on its own.
• 
  Step 8
  Continue to stir the sugar until completely melts, and turns into a nice golden liquid.
• 
  Step 9
  Chef’s Tip: Do your absolute best to keep any of the melting sugars from splashing up on the sides of the pan. Those hardened sugar crystals can give the caramel a grainy texture. When I see them forming on the sides, I’ll take a small damp brush, and brush them until they dissolve back into the sugars.
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  Step 10
  Add the butter one-third at a time, and completely incorporate each batch before adding the next.
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  Step 11
  Chef’s Tip: At this point, the sugar will be very hot, so when you add the butter it will sputter and spit. If you use clarified butter, the reaction will not be as dramatic.
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  Step 12
  Chef's Note: Stir the butter with the sugar, for a minute.
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  Step 13
  Chef’s Note: If you notice that some of the butter refuses to incorporate into the sugar, don’t worry, it will combine with the sugar when you add the evaporated milk.
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  Step 14
  Add the evaporated milk, and expect the liquid to foam up.
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  Step 15
  Chef's Note: Stir for an additional minute, and then remove from the heat.
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  Step 16
  As a final act, stir in the vanilla extract.
• Step 17
  Store the syrup in a tightly sealed jar.
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  Step 18
  PLATE/PRESENT
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  Step 19
  Drizzle on whatever goodies you choose. Enjoy
• 
  Step 20
  Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
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