The song that goes with this title is by K. D. Lang...remember her? I know it has nothing to do with a food craving, but the song still was on my mind none-the-less...
Anyway, for several weeks now I've been craving something I really shouldn't have. The heart meds I have to take are all named in the vast list of Rx medications that increase blood sugar levels. For this, I am now pre-diabetic. Which means I must watch my sugar intake. For women it's 26 grams per day, but prediabetes cuts that number to 22 grams!! And with the constant craving of something sweet had me torn. Should I? Shouldn't I? Then, to top it off my craving could not be satisfied!! Pearson's Peanut Rolls were NOT to be found in town/stores here and in three other nearby towns. Everywhere I went/stopped, I checked out the candy aisles. No go. I didn't want chocolate, [tho Peter Paul Mounds is my favorite], I wanted the salty sweetness of peanuts and caramel. As a kid, I ate the peanut rolls for a bedtime snack with a glass of milk. Who'd know, as a youngster, they were bad for you --- the bar has 37mg of sugar!!!
After so long of a constant craving, I decided, 'What the heck, I'll make my own....can't be THAT difficult!'
Wrong. Tho, not difficult...a very long, finger scalding adventure I'll probably not do again. Oh, and searching for the bar to purchase online, I read that the Nut Rolls have had a nation-wide recall. Something which I can't remember the 'cause for the company to take them off the store shelves.
Over the weekend, I made my own.
Begin with the ingredients: Salted Peanuts, Caramel squares, Marshmallow Creme, and Confectioner's Sugar. Take the creme and sugar and knead together...
Form into bite-sized 'bars' of nougat and place on wax paper and freeze 'til set. In the meantime, microwave the caramel squares. Dip the frozen nougat into melted caramel...
...roll into crushed salted peanuts. And refreeze 'til set again. Work fast, and after two scalded fingers I finally sprayed my candy tongs with 'non-stick' spray...Duh!! Worked like a charm.
The taste test...perfect! Exactly LIKE the store bought. But, again, way too much work involved. My cravings have been satisfied tho! And the salt intake from the peanuts is not all that good for me either. Now, Bud gets to clean up the leftovers. He can eat anything and blood sugar levels stay 'normal' for him. Lucky guy.
Online Recipe
sounds really yummy.
ReplyDeleteThey ARE!
DeleteI'm so glad you found a way to satisfy your craving!
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the quietude of the park you visited and that reminded me of our last visit to Brazos Bend State Park a week or so ago. It was such a pleasure just to stop and drink in the quiet! (But I took my insect repellant just in case!!)
I'm not sure if this is the same area we visited a couple of years ago...I think it was Called Brazos on the River tho. Such an interesting place. Lots of Texas history.
DeleteI've had diabetes for years and finally realised that it takes far less to satisfy a craving if you do so in a timely manner... putting it off means gorging, at least it does for me. It's been much easier to deal with since.
ReplyDeleteExactly, I have found it takes a ton of will power. Which I'm learning to control with a change of life style.
Deletei find it is a good idea to feed that craving at least one time because it only gets worse the longer you crave. the good news is, you have someone to finish this off for you. i want to know why bob can eat the same food and same amount or more and lose weight wile i gain. this candy was my dad's favorite ...next was snickers
ReplyDeleteI know....here too, Bud can eat anything and the pounds jump off him to me.
Deletei am back from the other post, love the tree full of vultures. i like to watch these beautiful ugly birds.. natures garbage collectors. the bad news for me is i am allergic to insect repellent, i have to use Avon stinky stuff and it helps some but not always... Skin so soft is what we use and now i am finding the scent upsets my scent allergy.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize anyone would be allergic to insect repellent....too bad. That Skin So Soft never worked for me.
DeleteI have found that Kind bars work for me. Only 5 or 6 grams of sugar in each one, and very satisfying too. Not very big, but they work. Those bars you made look really good. Too bad they take so much work. :-)
ReplyDeleteI tried the Almond Cranberry KIND bars....if I remember right, they have 12 grams of sugar. And they're too small. LOL
DeleteOh, my, that looks so yummy. We watch what we eat, too, to avoid high "scores" on all kinds of scales. ;) But, there are times we just have to have some comfort food.
ReplyDeleteYep, it was time to have my 'comfort food'....now it's back to watching the intake of the 'bad' stuff. lol
DeleteYay for a new trail to explore!
ReplyDeleteBoy that sweet roll adventure was labor intensive and you would have always wondered if you hadn't made them so Yay!!
My peeps like to watch an Italian Cooking program Cooking with Lydia.
Recently she made Fava bean dip with fresh fava beans. Oh my stars those beans have to be removed from pod, then blanched, then each individual bean has a hull that has to be removed. No way would mom ever try that. LOL
Hugs madi and mom
Oh my goodness...that is labor intensive to be sure.
DeleteGood for you! My client has diabetes. I see her this afternoon. I love your forest walk and your birds!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer...I'm not all that pleased I weakened....the sugar content made me mighty guilty. But, oh the pleasing taste and the taste buds were elated! LOL
DeleteLooks delicious. Sorry you have to go through all that nasty stuff. When you have cravings, you've got cravings. I have my moments as well. That new trail looks great for new discoveries. Oh Texas....so many birds to see there:)
ReplyDeleteTexas...definitely a birding paradise. Tho, your area of AZ is ideal too. I saw many 'new' birds when there in Tucson and the surrounding desert areas....from Cave Creek/Douglas, to Sarita and Nogales ....up to Phoenix. Great birding there too.
DeleteVery enjoyable, thank you (both posts)
ReplyDeleteThanks again Martin.
Deleteoh those look really good. I agree though that it sounds like too much work.
ReplyDeleteJust for one....ya, that was a lot of work. Bud was appreciative tho.
DeleteI'm back to comment on the second post. That looks like a nice area. Those vultures are pretty darn ugly but the photos are pretty awesome
ReplyDelete...definitely an ugly bird!!
DeleteOh, I am glad I had a late lunch or I would be drooling on my keyboard right now!!! Yum, yum!!!
ReplyDeleteAs I respond to your comment, I am ready for lunch!!! Too early, ya, probably. lol
DeleteThese vultures are not very pretty but impressive birds! The area is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAnd the photos of your second post ... I nearly got a craving too! They look really delicious!
They are delicious, but the sugar content had me feeling MORE than guilty, I couldn't feel right about eating just one, so as I said Bud was happy when I said "The rest are yours".
DeleteI love those peanut rolls,but also try to limit my intake.It's not that I have to because of health issues,but I find them to be so very sweet.
ReplyDeleteSweet they are. But good 'comfort food' to satisfy a craving for something salty/sweet.
DeleteThese look good, but I would have to floss continually for 24 hours after I ate one.
ReplyDeleteI make something similar at Christmas; dip a marshmallow in melted caramel, then roll in Rice Krispies. It's messy but good. I don't like peanuts, so the Rice Krispies are perfect!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the photos in the other post. The new trail is going to be great!
Kinda a mixture of the salted nut roll and rice krispie treats...I like 'em both!! lol
DeleteLooks really good! I am also pre-diabetic. My dad had diabetes. I am finding it impossible to resist ice cream! I don't tolerate cow milk so I buy goat milk ice cream, which is expensive, but I crave it and it makes me feel so good! Funny thing is that I gave up sugar years ago and did not consume it at all for about 10 years. But after I moved to a rural area, I couldn't find enough other things that made my tummy happy so I started eating it again.
ReplyDeleteOur local store chain has 'no sugar' ice cream. And to be honest, I like it better than the 'REAL' stuff. lol
Deleteenjoyed the pictures.
ReplyDeleteYou dear one overjoy me with all your positive feedback
DeleteHello Annie!:) The secluded park looks like a wonderful natural area to photograph wildlife. We have parks like this,...without the vultures, just the occasional Butro, which is not nearly as interesting. I have had cravings,... used to enjoy Snickers which was changed to Marathon, but now they have been withdrawn from the market, I wonder why! Enjoyed watching you make this mouth watering, crave pleasing récipe. Must say Annie, the do look yummy.:)
ReplyDeleteI've heard of the Marathon bar, but never tried it. Wonder why they were pulled off the stores' shelves. The woodsy area is one of my favorite hang-outs. At least during the winter months with no mosquitoes. lol
DeleteLove the woods and peanuts
ReplyDeleteMe too Joe....on both, we agree.
DeleteAs I was reading your candy bar-I kept thinking of how I loved the Payday bar. It is very similar. Here is what I found about it: "PayDay is a candy bar consisting of salted peanuts rolled in caramel surrounding a firm nougat-like center. It is currently produced by The Hershey Company." For the next time you get a craving, you might try one of them. It's a good thing that I don't have enough "chewers" so cannot eat them today, but I remember how good they were!
ReplyDeleteThere is even a recipe for making copy cats of them here: http://www.food.com/recipe/pay-day-candy-bar-109118
Oh ya, I've had the PayDay bars too....not quite like the Salted Nut Rolls tho, their nougat is more 'caramelized' compared to the marshmallow creme nougat. I like 'em tho.
DeleteAs I'd seen you on many of the blogs I visit I just had to come and have a look - glad I did.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks for the visit Jan
DeleteI am diabetic, so I know about those food cravings!
ReplyDeleteAs for your other post, that is a beautiful woodpecker. Sorry I can't say the same for the Vultures!
Hope you are having a great day!
Lea
Oh to be young again, and not have to be concerned about what goes in the mouth. Right?
DeleteYa, I agree, the woodpecker is quite a bit more pleasing to the eye...but the vultures are a needed necessity to the scheme of things.
Hello Anni, your sweet treats look delicious. My hubby is diabetic also and goes thru the same cravings. We can not keep anything sweet in the house. The new trail looks great, I love the woodpecker. Enjoy your day and the weekend ahead!
ReplyDeleteMaybe that should be something I should consider...NO SWEETS in the house. Good idea.
Deletelove the vultures...as i got home yesterday one flew right over my car and landed on a branch in the backyard...i ran in and got my camera and he was gone when i came back out...darn!
ReplyDeleteOh that has happened to me so many times!! It's frustrating. But I tend to look at it this way, there is a BETTER op sooner or later.
Deletei like the vultures, too. and the view thru the barbed-wire fence. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm on a fence quest today...hope I find something...
DeleteThat looks delicious! The golden-crowned woodpecker has a jailbird suit just like the red-breasted woodpecker.
ReplyDelete~
Yes...a regular "Jailbird"!!
DeleteWe enjoyed your pictures of the woods. As you are also retired you may be interested in our blog, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks...I'm on my way to pay you a visit.
DeleteWonderful nature shots and excellent fences for Good Fences ~
ReplyDeleteHappy Week to you ~ ^_^
Thanks Carol...happy week to you too.
DeleteBeautiful pictures of the wilderness and the lovely birds, Ms. Anni!
ReplyDeleteAnd, nice title too :)
Have a Happy Day!
Peace :)
Thank you....Have a happy day yourself.
DeleteI do love the turkey vultures and when they return in the spring in huge flocks.. This bar looks yummy but a lot of work,,,hope your burned fingers aren't too badly hurt.. Michelle
ReplyDeleteNah, I didn't burn them badly....I shoulda thought before I tried to slide them out of the hot caramel. Duh. Thanks for the concern.
DeleteIt has gotten that is not safe to eat anything off the shelves anymore. Seems something is not good for one reason or anther. You were braver than I would have been to make your own.
ReplyDeleteYa, everything in the line of consumer products can be recalled at any time it seems. Scary, for the fact we all trust 'em....the companies to do their best in preventing this.
DeleteFirst from Good Fences, I really liked the gate with the pretty white flowers. The Vultures would have creeped me out.
ReplyDeleteNow for this post, I love those Nut Rolls ...I think our store is still carrying them. - I had no clue you could make your own. Sounds like way more work then I would want to do right now though. Glad you enjoyed your efforts.
Thanks Ida. Eventually, AFTER I made my own, I did find some of the Pearson's bars. But, they were at the dollar store, so I know they're close-out items, and I was leery to purchase any knowing they may be the 'recalled' ones from other stores. Y'know?
DeleteYum! My mouth is watering over your yummy treats. Love your assortment of images posted today.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephanie
DeleteVultures and Caramel Squares??? Mind you, I could make them work together, I could... *grin* Have a wonderful weekend Anni
ReplyDelete...quite a conglomeration of opposites, huh? lol
Delete