CARAMEL APPLE GRAPES

Steps:

• 1. clean grapes, remove from stems and dry with a paper towel. Remove as much water as possible. Insert toothpicks into grapes. Don't poke all the way through.
• 2. crush peanuts and set aside. The food processor works great for this. You can chop a couple of cups of nuts in just a minute or two.
• 3. In a double boiler or heavy sauce pan on the stove, melt caramel bits and half and half until it makes a thick and smooth sauce
• 4. make an "assembly line" of sorts. Have your grapes, your caramel sauce, and your bowl of crushed nuts in a line with an empty tray to but finished grapes onto.
• 5. Pick up grapes by the toothpick, dip into caramel then immediately into crushed nuts. Place on tray. Try to make it so that the toothpicks are standing up straight. Globe grapes work better for this because they are more rounded on the bottom but it doesn't matter what kind you use.
• 6. If not serving immediately, chill in refrigerator until you are ready to serve.
• 7. VARIATIONS -- instead of using peanuts, you can use pecans, cashews, pretzels, or most any other crunchy and salty snack. I have thought about using small pretzel rods instead of toothpicks to have a totally edible snack but have not tried it yet. You can use either half and half or heavy cream, you can even use regular milk if that is all you have but the caramel will not be as rich and creamy. If you do not have access to the caramel bits (available in the baking isle at my Walmart store) you can use regular caramel squares but I like using the bits better because they melt faster and I don't have to spend what seems like hours unwrapping them!