Dulce De Leche (from Scratch!)

Total Time: 1 hr 8 mins Preparation Time: 8 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 1 quart milk, preferably whole, organic and as fresh as possible
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 vanilla beans or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, dissolved in
• 1 tablespoon water

Recipe

• 1 in a large, heavy pan with tall sides (i'd recommend a stock pot), combine the milk and sugar.
• 2 split the vanilla bean along its length and scrape the seeds into the pot, then throw in the pod. bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.
• 3 when it has reached a simmer, remove from the heat and add the baking soda and water, stirring vigorously.
• 4 when the mixture settles down, return the pan to the heat and bring to a brisk simmer.
• 5 simmer for about one hour, or until it turns golden brown. you don't have to stir constantly. i worked around the kitchen and stirred it every once in a while.
• 6 after the milk mixture has changed to a deep golden brown check it more frequently. this is where you can decide just how dense and thick you want it to be.
• 7 if you want it pourable, like caramel sauce, wait just until it reaches the consistency of maple syrup - about 20 minutes after the color change - and take it off the heat.
• 8 strain through a mesh strainer into a glass jar or container and let cool. to make the ice cream, i removed the amount the recipe called for at this stage.
• 9 if you prefer a jam-like consistency to spread on toast, crackers, and anything else you can think of, let it cook longer.
• 10 to make the candy, keep simmering and stir the mixture constantly.
• 11 once it's the consistency you want, remove from heat.
• 12 let it cool a bit and then mold it into whatever shapes you'd like.
• 13 cool candy on wax paper.