You guys wanna hear about the time I got a free iPod?!
So I was dating this guy I met through a friend’s friend’s friend. We met up for the first time at a movie theatre and he was wearing a butt-flap. A butt-flap. If you’re blissfully unaware of what a butt-flap is, it’s a piece of fabric that unnecessarily hangs from the back of one’s pants, quite literally being a butt-flap. And it’s the most asinine and ridiculous thing one could ever wear besides sandals and socks. And he was wearing one, and in my moment of being a stupid teenager, I didn’t see anything wrong with this. Later, there would be many other things I didn’t see wrong which were very, very wrong, like taking 2347627823 pictures of myself to post on MySpace, or wearing turquoise eyeshadow up to my brow bones and thinking it was attractive.
Anyway, I was totally smitten with the fact that he spiked his hair just-so, that he wore that friggin’ stupid butt-flap, and that he read great works of English literature and claimed to be a feminist. We would frequently have conversations in which he would wax poetic about how he thought squatters were cool and how he thought meat-eaters were terrible people. He was unlike anyone I’d ever dated before because I probably was avoiding people like him for a reason. Also, he was a Cancer, which is a terrrrrible mistake for an Aquarian to make. (If you’re an Aquarius and like a Cancer dude: stop, drop, and run. Don’t answer his texts. He’ll probably start wearing a butt-flap soon.)
For a YEAR I listened to his intense arguments about why most men were chauvinistic pigs and why he thought leather was evil, even though he wore shoes with leather soles. We would hang out at his house–a sprawling, dilapidated 1920’s style mansion (really) in his room where he had posters of Japanese artwork on the walls. And for about 30% of the year we were together, I was happy. The rest of the time, true to teenagers-in-love fashion, we fought terribly over absolutely NOTHING, as most teenagers do.
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Fast forward to the day of our one year anniversary. Things were going prettttty awkward. So awkward, I’m assuming, which is why I cannot remember any of it except little snippets that I am going to tell you about now.
We got to the apathetic-gift-exchange part of the anniversary. I don’t remember what I got him so therefore, it was probably crappy, and he handed over a large box which contained the first and original iPod: a clunky, snow-white brick with a eardrum-splitting clicks when you thumbed the wheel and a dim black and pale green screen.
Of course I was floored. An iPod? He didn’t even have a job (hello, he believed in squatting–do you really see him being conventionally employed!?) and yet he had purchased this iPod for me, in spite of all of our bickering. It made me look twice at him, like maybe I could forget about the fact that he had an aversion to deodorant or that he wore jeans from the womens department.
Juuuuust about when I was getting ready to accept this, a few hours later he broke up with me, in a parking lot, in front of my mom’s minivan, while wearing a butt-flap. “It’s just not working out, and I just can’t do this anymore,” he explained vaguely. He insisted I keep the iPod and, now the proud owner of a 450-pound iPod, I happily obliged.
And that’s how I simultaneously ended an exactly 365-day relationship AND got a free iPod. Now who is hungry?!
With caramel apple season around the corner, I haaaaad to get a jump start. Personally, I find caramel apples to be a seasonless favorite–I can enjoy them while it’s melting hot outside or when it’s blustery, but I prefer them when the weather changes, the leaves transform into beautiful shades of ruby, and when apples are in their peak season.
These apple pops are a spin-off of two ideas that knocked my socks off — a recipe for Apple Jack Cookies in Jessica Segarra‘s new book, Cereal Sweets & Treats, and a recipe from an older Taste of Home magazine that called for dipping baked cookies in caramel, rolling them in nuts and sticking them on a toothpick. Not one to skimp on that extra oomph, I decided to blend both recipes to create a truly unique, seasonal treat that is reminiscent of my all-time fave!
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup white sugar
- 1 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 & ½ cups Apple Jacks cereal, finely crushed
- 1 & ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch salt
- 1 pkg caramel bits
- 1 can sundae peanuts
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and white sugar until fluffy and light. Gradually add in the milk and vanilla, beating to combine.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the crushed cereal, flour, cinnamon and salt; gradually add this mixture into the butter mixture, about a cup at a time, until fully incorporated.
- Roll the cookie dough into Tablespoon-sized balls using a cookie dough scoop to portion. Place the dough balls onto a foil-lined baking sheet. Freeze the cookie dough until completely firm, about an hour.
- While the cookie dough freezes, melt the caramel according to package directions until smooth and on the thinner side (you can thin it out gradually by adding a little milk at a time).
- Gently stick a toothpick into a still-frozen cookie dough ball. Dip the bottom half of the ball into the caramel, allowing excess to drip off. Roll the caramel-coated bottom in chopped sundae peanuts. Place back on the sheet to set and repeat with remaining pops.
- Serve immediately, or store leftovers in the fridge for several days.
These pops aren’t only adorable, but they’re DELICIOUS, too. I LOVE the addition of crushed Apple Jacks cereal into the snickerdoodle cookie base. It’s such an unexpected twist and marries so beautifully with the spicy, warm cinnamon of the sugary cookie dough, while imparting a nice, crisp texture as well. The apple flavor is subtle, so you can focus primarily on that buttery caramel, the salty peanuts, and the rich, complex cinnamon flavor of these scrumptious, highly addictive cookie pops. I’m in love!
Be sure to check out Jessica’s book — I LOVE cereal and am finding I am obsesssssed with every recipe in here!
Have a fantastical day!!
xo, Hayley
Lisa @ Wine & Glue says
Bwahahahahahaha!! Love it!! These look awesome!
tanya says
Well you a little smarty aren’t you? These are so clever I can’t stand it! I love APPLE JACKS! Kids all over the world would flip out over these!
Faith @ Pixie Dust Kitchen says
Apple Jacks, cookies, and caramel? Sounds like heaven and the perfect fall treat for kiddos!
Kelly@ hidden fruits and veggies says
WHAT?! Are you telling be buttflaps and glorified hobos aren’t sexy? I need to rethink my life. While eating a ridiculous amount of these. They sound fabulous full of fall seasony comfort
Karly says
A butt flap? I’m not sure that’s worth an iPod, Hayley.
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
OK, I am glad I am not hte only person with weird attraction to spikey hair. (I went through a punk rocker phase.) Not sure about the butt flap, but I’d take the ipod!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry says
All I got out of my four year relationship was a pile of his crap. I think you got the better end of the deal. These pops are perfect for my annual halloween party!
Stephanie @ Back For Seconds says
Ah, the butt flap. On of my best friends always wore one and it was pretty embarrassing, lol! You just can’t help but lose a little respect for someone who thinks it’s cool to sport one. Seems like you deserved more than an iPod in exchange for putting up with him for a YEAR. Ugh.
Anyway, these pops look so yummy! I love snickerdoodles and this is such a fun idea!
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie says
Always be wary of guys in butt-flaps! 😉 This is such a fun, unique idea, Hayley! I love it 🙂
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting says
Well at least it ended on a high note? Sounds like you made out for the better! Also, yes, caramel apples. Bring it on!
Charlie says
A friend of mine told me about this website and how stupid the stories were leading up to a recipe that had absolutely nothing to do with the story. I didn’t believe them, so they sent me this link. Wow, was I wrong. This has got to be the dumbest introduction to a recipe I’ve ever see. A story about teenage love, iPods and buttflaps leading into a carmel wrap apple recipe? Seriously?
Lady, you need a life. Telling your mundane little anecdotes online annonymously to the world my feel rewarding, cute or satisfying to you. But it screams of a bored woman with absolutely zero substance or meaning to her existence. Get outside, excercise, travel, go fly fishing on the Snake River. Just do something else because this is pathetic and sad.
thedomesticrebel says
I’m sorry if I appear boring to you, Charlie. I’m also sorry you felt the need to spend all this time coming to my website, thus earning me money with every post you read and link you clicked, and felt the need to write a lengthy comment “insulting” me, also anonymously. This comment will serve as a constant reminder that some deplorable asshole thinks I am pathetic.
You are welcome to go roll around in the earth at Snake River and get your caramel apple wrap recipes elsewhere as there isn’t much in the way of insipid introductions and dumbed-down recipes here. May I suggest something more your pace, like staring at a wall? Perhaps removing the large stick out of your ass?
Go fuck yourself,
Hayley
Teresa says
*SNORT* I’m a new reader of your blog and I happen to love your stories that usually have nothing/little to do with the recipes but are extremely hilarious and entertaining, nonetheless.
Your reply to Charlie is classic, witty, clever and all sorts of other happy, positive adjectives. Thank you for giving me something to snort-giggle about today!
Also: This recipe sounds all kinds of yummy! I want some Apple Jacks now, dangit.
thedomesticrebel says
Hahahaha thanks Teresa! I can tell we’ll get along just fine 😉
Teresa says
One would think you might take your own advice, Charlie. Taking a moment to read her story, then comment on it and tell her what a life she does not have, by your ‘standards’, only smacks of your own pathetic existence.
Get a life, indeed…
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
You have the best stories! I’m unsuuuure of what a butt flap is but it sounds horrid. But all in all, I’d say you came out ahead. An iPod is way more than I got out of anyyy of my relationships.
I super duper want that cookbook, it sounds amazinggg! These are so adorable and so creative! Youuuuu, you and your brilliant ideas!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
I don’t know what a butt flap is, and I think I’m probably better off not knowing, haha! You definitely came out on the winning end of that relationship, that’s for sure.
I’m always amazed by all of your creative ideas. These look awesome!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
Ditto Ashley – totally winning end of that one! I love these pops – I swear can I live in your creative spot for just an hour?? Please?
Liz says
Do you take orders….and ship to Canada?! Just kiddin’….but I do wish I was your neighbor! 🙂
Aeriel says
Awe thank you for this awesome post. I completely understand the horrible teenage fad of the “butt-flap” lol. These pops look AMAZING!!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Caramel apples were totally my thing as a kid, when it came September and October I was making my mom buy them by the dozen every week! I totally am making these!
Tonette Joyce says
It’s nearly Autumn…GOTTA HAVE ALL THINGS CARAMEL APPLE!
Layla Anne says
Such a tasty sounding treat! I’m always looking for fun innovative recipes and this looks perfect! I might just dust off that old butt flap and get out my mixer!! Whiirrrrrrrrr!! Lol!!
Nancy @ gottagetbaked says
The ancient iPod was his “get-out-of-relationship-free” card. Not a bad move for a butt-flap wearing, unemployed, hipster-wannabe hobo. And grrrrrrrl, these pops are all kinds of yum.