CARAMEL PECAN TURTLES

Steps:

• Spread out a couple of sheets of wax paper, about the size of a large cookie sheet. Melt dark chocolate in microwave, following melting instructions on the candy melt package. Do not overcook it or you've ruined it, though a friend told me a couple drops of veg. oil will restore it. The consistency will be melted, but not runny - i.e. you won't be able to stir, hold the spoon up & have chocolate dripping off it like a waterfall (if this is your expectation, you will burn it!). Take melted dk. chocolate and using a cereal or soup spoon, get a spoonful, dollop onto wax paper & use the back of the spoon to smooth into a circle a tad larger than a silver dollar. This is the bottom of the turtle - the "plastron" in turtle lingo! Before the dk. choc. starts to harden, put 4 pecan halves onto the dark choc. w/a little bit of pecan extending over the edges .these are the "feet". Let cool. As your plastron is cooling, melt the caramel in a saucepan w/a teaspoon or so of water. Use low heat & stir frequently w/a wooden spoon. Once caramel is melted, take a cereal/soup spoon & carefully ladle caramel over the pecans. Let cool. Once your caramel has cooled, melt the light choc. in the microwave. To form the top of the turtle (the "carapace" in turtle lingo), spoon light chocolate over the caramel & smooth w/spoon to make it look pretty. Let cool. Pack in decorative tins or other container, putting a wax paper layer in between layers. These freeze very well and travel through the mail well.