Salted Caramels and Candy Thermometers

I've been meaning to purchase a candy thermometor for almost a year now. But the past three times I've come across one, I pick it up, lug it around while I peruse the store, bring it the register, and finally have a change of heart. My exchange with the cashier typically goes something like this:

"Ah, I'm sorry, but, um, I won't be getting the thermometer this time."

"Okay...How about those Sour Straws*?" he asks.

"Oh, these? Of course. Just the Sour Straws."

You see, in my adventure of moving across the country and leaving behind the glamorous and equally material life of an investment banker, I made a conscious effort to downsize and de-clutter. I ended up donating or throwing away three quarters of my life when I left the east coast. [Imagine the TV show "Hoarders"...in reverse.] Sometimes I can feel myself starting to acquire, acquire, acquire again and anxiety ensues. Which is why the cashier at Bed, Bath, and Beyond likely thinks I am an indecisive, confused little girl with a Sour Straw dependency. And justifiably so.

Anywho, when I came across this recipe, my lingering fear of unnecessarily cluttering my kitchen was abated. Bonus: You will likely already have all of the required ingredients in your pantry. I hope you enjoy as much as my roommates and I did!

*I love Sour Straws. It's becoming an issue. I think I felt my first cavity forming after a recent binge.