Caramel sauce. My whole life I thought that this is something I would never be able to cook myself . I heard terrible stories how it is difficult and elaborate and you need so much time and skills to be able to do it right... But I love caramel and when we go out I almost always chose something with caramel sauce as a dessert. I never broke down to buy the thing in a bottle - the ingredients on the store bought stuff caused me almost an heart attack - I never buy things that have more chemical ingredients in in then the periodic table.
So...yesterday I took up the challenge. The first surprise came with the ingredients: you just need sugar, water, cream and butter. That´s it.
The first attempt was a disaster - I read in the cookbook: put 130 ml of white sugar into a pan, add 30 ml of water, boil, stirr and when the caramel starts to have it´s wonderful color - add the cream. Right. I put the sugar and water into a pan, stirred...and stirred ...and stirred...the water evaporated and all I got was a white thick mess....
At this point I was determined not to give up - no caramel sauce is ever going to win over a Czech woman!
I went to youtube and searched for HOW TO MAKE CARAMEL SAUCE FOR DUMMIES. And voila! There it was - an older lady (my age) explained step by step the very easy way how to make the most delicious caramel sauce in the world:
It goes like this: put the sugar into a pan and add some water. Disolve it by stirring but when it starts boiling stop stirring! And just watch...and wait...after a couple of minutes you will be rewarder with the wonderful caramel aroma. And colour. At this point remove the pan from the heat and very carefuly add cream (hot cream !). You will observe the amaging process of cream overpowering the sugar and resulting into a smooth fantastic sauce...after a while add some butter, gently gently gently ....and be strong! Don´t taste yet, as it is very hot!! But then...after lurking and restraining yourself for a couple of minutes...try it...and feel as the best chef in the world!

Lesson learned (Dan´s style) : it is never too late to learn how to make caramel sauce:)

seems to be delicious. Good job. SergioDC · 2012-05-20: 06:05

Marie - I am so proud of you!!!! Bravo for taking up the challenge and doing it - making caramel sauce. How you wrote about the process had a magical feel to it. I could sense the pride and the effort in your words. What an awesome post. I am honored that my name is even mentioned in your post.... I am so moved and your creation looks so yummy - I am going to run out and get a bottle of caramel sauce and a chocolate cake from the grocery store and treat myself. (I am so so sorry Marie - I am an American who does not know how to stop when he is ahead - I ruined it by that last thought) I love you and your wonderful cooking!!!! Maaaaaarie! danrav · 2012-05-20: 06:40

yummy!! :) miltonjacob · 2012-05-20: 06:47

Why do you do this to me? I need to LOSE weight! Otherwise it is a very nice post. Lsample · 2012-05-20: 08:04

Now THIS is the kind of photo that needs to be FP! Chocolate ALWAYS deserves its proper place in the sun. lookwhatisaw · 2012-05-20: 08:37

WOW! I think I gained weight looking/reading - Supper great job! miahurricane · 2012-05-20: 08:44

It looks fantastic !! finbarr · 2012-05-20: 11:29

ohhhhhhhhhhhh my mouth is watering!! jennyLit · 2012-05-20: 19:06

:-)" Shaparak · 2012-05-20: 23:33

Wow! Sounds fantastic! Congrats! pandka · 2012-05-21: 07:48

Chocolate for breakfast? Kudos to you for trying and succeeding! NellyBly · 2012-05-21: 12:07

Wow Really interesting post Thanks so much for sharing Congrats helys · 2012-05-21: 12:16

No, not for breakfast ... with your afternoon tea, right? Looks so yummy!!! Ryana · 2012-05-21: 12:52

Thank you for sharing the recipe and encouraging, I have never dared to try it but now I feel I have to do caramel sauce myself! =))) Nellinka · 2012-05-21: 13:29

That you are a good cook, we know it already! Now you earned your 5th star!! :)) Unchained · 2012-05-21: 19:38

Nadhera! honzicek · 2012-05-21: 21:37

Looks great! I made it many years ago in a wonderful dessert called Celestial Vanilla Pie -- many layers of goodness -- homemade pie shell, vanilla chiffon filling, caramel sauce, whipped cream, topped by chocolate curls. I tripped on the doorstep!!!!! And that was the last time I made it!!! ;-) CHOSSID · 2012-05-22: 00:09

You know what, Mary? I think I will not ever, ever look at your pictures of food. Are so delicious! Contesina · 2012-05-22: 11:48

Looks fantastic and sounds fantastic. Well done for not giving up, I need to stop looking at this as it is making me hungry lol. LadyDee1 · 2012-05-24: 10:02

I am suddenly hungry for something with caramel. Sounds delicious! BeatleGreg · 2012-05-29: 16:30

Tagged: cake