Caramel Shortbread

My Auntie Mary would always make these for us every time we came over. I have her recipe somewhere but can't find it, so this one is from allrecipes.com. They are absolutely delicious but very rich, so go steady!

• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 1 1/4 cups milk chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).
2. In a medium bowl, mix together 2/3 cup butter, white sugar, and flour until evenly crumbly. Press into a 9 inch square baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes.
3. In a 2 quart saucepan, combine 1/2 cup butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and sweetened condensed milk. Bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon for about 3 minutes. Pour over baked crust (warm or cool). Cool until it begins to firm.
4. Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 1 minute, then stir and continue to heat and stir at 20 second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour chocolate over the caramel layer and spread evenly to cover completely. Chill. Cut into 1 inch squares. These need to be small because they are so rich.

Coconut & Caramel Cookies

It was time to invent a new recipe of my own - I have yet to make a coconut cookie and I have a case of caramel bits in my pantry, so I mixed the two together.

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 cups coconut
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 bag kraft caramel bits

1. Cream together the butter and sugars.
   
2. Beat in the egg and egg yolk and then add the vanilla and milk.
   
3. Sift in the flour, baking soda, and salt.
   
4. Fold in the flour, coconut and caramel bits.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
   
6. Leave to cool on baking sheets for about 5 minutes and then transfer to coolling racks.