I just made these cute salted caramel + chocolate pecan candies, much like turtles but not shaped like a turtle. You can use store-bought caramel, but I made mine from scratch. I used pecans from my parents' backyard.

Ingredients: makes about 80 candies

for caramel (from Allrecipes.com) 2 cups white sugar 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup corn syrup (I would actually use less) 1 cup evaporated milk 1 pint whipping cream 1 cup butter 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract

for candies 6 cups chopped & toasted pecans 1 bag of semisweet chocolates a pinch of Sea Salt for each candy

for presentation gold foil candy wrappers (I got them at Michaels) white sparkle tulle bags (also from Michaels - when I ran out I improvised with found tulle and ribbon from around the house)

Get the pecan out of the pecan shell and toast Mix everything for caramel recipe together in a large pot - or - go to the store and buy caramels Stir over heat, simmer Watch and keep stirring until color darkens Once it reaches 248 degrees Fahrenheit take off the heat. This was my first time making caramel, so it was not perfect, but I did not burn it and it tastes great, so I say a win! Lay out into a pre-greased pan and cool Cut up caramel into squares and shape into flat circles Add pecans, we decided to put them underneath the caramel Put four chocolate pieces on top and put in pre-heated 350 degree F oven for 60-120 seconds, then shape chocolate into a more pleasing mess Add a sprinkle of sea salt Add a decorative pecan piece Wrap in a pretty gold foil wrapper Put in a pretty tulle pouch Share with friends!