I was worried that Jeff was going to be bored to tears on Sunday ... the girls are still ignoring him... and I was making almond roca. I told Jeff that I felt bad that I wasn't taking him out to do some Oregon sight seeing... but he said he would LOVE to learn to make almond roca...  that it was just nice to be "Gnome for the Holidays" 

1) Jeff is ready to toast the almonds in the oven 
2) Jeff butters the pan so it will be all ready
3) We found Jeff an apron to match his hat...  and he's ready to add butter to the pan. He's doing a very good job so far!

4) Jeff gets the sugar and almonds ready to add to the butter 
5) Jeff pours the cooked almond roca into the pan.... and admires it  
6) I told Jeff if he scores it with a knife it will break apart easier when it's hard.. .and he was all for that idea... said his little arms were SO tired from stirring that stuff!

7) Jeff adds the melted chocolate to the top, then sprinkles almonds over the top. The thought he was all done... but I told him we had to wait now to flip it over and put melted chocolate and nuts on the OTHER side... we are both getting tired! 

8) Jeff  just kept laughing about the candy thermometer  being almost as tall as he is!

9) I told Jeff I'd finish breaking up the almond roca.. and he could visit my favorite places in the house... the shelf in my kitchen window with the "vegetable people" and Jeff loves them as much as I do!  

OMG, this is just too funny, I think I pulled a muscle in my gut!!!!!!!!!! You guys are crazy!!!!! Love Jeff the Gnome, can't wait to see where he ends up next!

Jeff was so exhaused after our big day of making almond roca that he decided to stay home and snooze all day Monday in Lucy's snuggle sack....  (he said visiting a CPA office didn't sound like much fun! )... and he'll be all rested & ready to go to dog grooming school with me on Tuesday!  

I'm posting the almond roca recipe for Cheryl, Kacie and anyone else that wants it! I've made this recipe for over 20 years. It was a "secret" recipe from my cousin Phyllis. I'm not a candymaker at all, but this recipe comes out great "almost" every time I make it... BUT every now and then it does a strange thing where the butter separates out!  Jeff and I made 3 batches, and the 1st two batches came out great... but the 3rd batch the butter was separating from the sugar at the end and I couldn't get it stirred back in. I think part of it was I was so tired from stirring the other 3 batches that I was out of steam... but it was cooked to the proper temp 300 degrees, so I just poured the separated butter off and put the solid candy in the pan and it does taste okay. Since I was going to post the recipe here I decided to search online and try to find out what exactly is happening with the butter separation thing... and found this link: http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000903almond_roca.php  using a different recipe, but after the recipe there are a LOT of comments on the "whys" of the butter separation, plus some other tips. I don't think anyone really knows "why" this butter separation happens.. I always thought it was a temperature thing (cooking slightly too hot, or not hot enough) but still don't know! I do know that when the recipe turns out....  it is well worth the work!  The only tip I have is to use a pan with a very heavy bottom if possible... and if not you will need to be very careful about the temp you cook at to prevent burning! The finished color should be similar to the color of peanut butter    

Jeff's Almond Roca

1 lb. butter (use real butter only)
1 1/2 C. almonds (I buy slivered almonds)
2 C. sugar
2 bags Wilton's Milk or Dark Chocolate Candy Melts (I get mine at Michael's Craft Store - (or you can use a melted Hershey candy bars)

Chop almonds (or use slivered for larger almond pieces) and toast on cookie sheet at 375 degrees about 10 minutes, or until slightly browned. In a heavy 2 quart pan melt 1 pound of butter and bring to a rolling boil on high, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to prevent burning. When butter comes to a rolling boil add the 2 cups of sugar and continue on high heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. When the mixture begins to turn brown add heaping cups of nuts (save remainder of nuts for sprinkling on chocolate coating) and turn down to medium heat. Continue cooking while stirring constantly for at least 10-12 minutes. I will be about 300 degrees (hard-crack stage)  on candy thermometer when done. Poor into buttered pan (15" x 10" inch jellyroll) to cool.  (Optional: after the candy has cooled for 5 minutes I like to take a knife and score it slightly into small squares so that it breaks apart easier into squares, instead of just random size pieces) Once the candy is cool melt the candy melts in microwave or double-boiler following package directions and spread evenly over candy.  Sprinkle with remaining almond before chocolate hardens. (If using Hershey candy bars they can be placed on top of hot candy in pan, then spread chocolate with knife when melted and sprinkle with almonds. )  After chocolate has set up on the 1st side flip candy out of pan onto waxed paper. Melt the other bag of candy melts (or melt Hershey bars) and spread on 2nd side of candy. When chocolate is completely set break candy into pieces. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Jeff had a lots of fun at grooming school on Tuesday & Wednesday! He was a big hit with the teacher and students... and it was SO much fun having him there!

1) Jeff checks out some of the different grooming tools
2) Jeff learns which shears to use 
3) Jeff watches and learns how to bathe a dog

Jeff's 1st dog to groom has a reputation of clearing a room from her bad breath (poor sweet girl ) but Jeff and I just put a little "gnome flower extract" under our noses... and we BOTH agreed that we'd take ALL the dogs that had breath that kills... as long as they were as sweet as Shadow.. who stand perfectly still on the grooming table... and is just a total doll!

3) Jeff says this dryer is REALLY BIG!
4) Jeff stands with Shadow after she's finished... and gets a little goose!
5) Another picture of sweet Shadow & Jeff

Jeff wasn't too sure about doing a bigger dog... he wondered at first if Xeno thought he was just a tasty treat!

1) Jeff and Xeno
2) Jeff and Xeno get along fine... Jeff does decide BIG dogs are okay!
3) Jeff takes a break from grooming and decides to try out the dog cages

Jeff decides that he doesn't really like being "behind bars" but thinks it's pretty cozy with the cage door open!

7) Jeff with the cage door open
8) Jeff helped groom a Bischon 
9) Jeff and another sweet girl... Katie before she's groomed

Jeff helps finish grooming Katie... and is off to enjoy some of the YUMMY treats that our doggy parents brought us for Christmas (forgot the pictures of those! ) PLUS..... it's graduation day! I'm so happy Jeff could be with me for graduation... AND Christmas!!

10) Katie after Jeff & I finish grooming her
11) Karen & Jeff pose with Karen's professional grooming certificate!

Haha Karen those are too funny! looks like Jeff had tuns of fun making new friends and i love his bandanna that matched the dogs.  

Jeff and I have been wiped out after our hectic week & graduation from grooming school! We finally got busy on Saturday and made my favorite Christmas cookies....   Thumb Print cookies!   Jeff was a little disappointed... he wanted to make the "thumb prints" in the dough... but I told him with his "tiny" little thumb prints we wouldn't have room for the frosting!  He agreed.. and was happy doing the job of filling the thumb prints with frosting after they were baked!

On Sunday we're going to brave the shopping mall so we can go to the "Made in Oregon" store and get something special from Oregon to send with Jeff when he leaves to go to Cheryl's house in a few more days!