almost paradise

mr. pike and i invited the missionaries from our church over for dinner this week. while i don't usually make dessert, i always feel like i should when company comes over. i didn't plan on anything fancy, just brownies with ice cream.

the more i thought about dessert, i felt like i was missing some key element. i decided on a sauce to pour over the ice cream. i had made mr. pike's grandmother's hot fudge sauce for them once before, so i started looking through my cookbooks for something new.

and then i found it -- caramel sauce.

by the time i started making it, mr. pike was home from work and came into the kitchen to help with preparations. he was very excited about the prospects of this caramel sauce. he appointed himself to keep vigil over the sauce, stirring it consistently to keep it from burning.

after a few minutes, i came over with a spoon to take a taste. and it was at that moment i thought i heard in the distance ann wilson and mike reno singing almost paradise. you know, that hit song from footloose -

almost paradise
we're knocking on heaven's door
almost paradise
how could we ask for more?

that's how fantastically good this caramel sauce tasted. i looked at mr. pike and gave him a spoon. "try this," i said. he didn't hesitate. and suddenly he melted to the floor. "we've just made something so fabulously delicious. it's like heaven."

i looked at him and said, "like paradise, mr. pike. it's like paradise."

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caramel sauce - the recipe
from Favorites (A Collection of Favorite Ivory Family Recipes)

4 T. butter
1 1/4 c. brown sugar
2/3 c. light corn syrup
3/4 c. evaporated milk

melt the butter in a saucepan; add brown sugar and corn syrup. bring to a boil. reduce heat and cook, stirring constantly, to soft-ball stage. remove from heat and stir in evaporated milk. (stores well in the fridge - if you have any left!)