I had visions of creating a post filled with wicked witches and poison apples, riddles wrapped in fables and tales of childhood characters spun in a whole new way to coordinate with ABC’s new show, Once Upon a Time. The thing is, I got a little poisoned appled out a bit early in the month and secondly, read Fables instead.
Fables is a comic – bare with me – like you have never read. It’s my ‘gateway drug’, my ‘comic crack baby’, and easily my number one selling graphic novel. And there’s a reason for it.
Fables takes every fairy tale character you have ever thought you heard of and has them exiled and living on a street in New York city (well, except for the talking animals, can’t have those walking down the streets of NYC). Bill Willingham spins these childhood memories in a way you never thought possible long before TV executives had the idea, along with stunning covers from James Jean, and a majority of beautiful internal art by Mark Buckingham. Snow white is a hardened woman who wont talk about the dwarves. Old King Cole is the aloof mayor. The Big Bad Wolf keeps things in line by having the role of sheriff. And everyone’s favorite prince works his charm a little to well (on Snow, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and and anyone else he can every chance he gets). Willingham takes characters you only vaguely remembered and builds depth and personality that you can’t help but fall in love with.
The first book is a murder mystery used to introduce the human characters, the second arch introduces you to the animal farm and the third one starts to flush out a key point to the books- the war to go home. You will be drawn in by comedy, drama, love and war and when you find out who it is who is keeping everything at stake, won’t be able to put these books down.
Currently there are 15 volumes of Fables collected into graphic novels, 2 short Cinderella side stories, 1001 Nights of Snowfall, Peter and Max a novelization of Fables stories and a line of books about Jack (you know Jack be nimble, Jack and Jill, Jack and the bean stalk? Yeah, that Jack that’s always up to too much no good).
Butterfinger Caramel Apples
Ingredients:
- 5 Granny Smith Apples
- 3 (2.1 ounce) Butterfinger candy bars, or 15 mini Butterfinger bars
- 11 oz bag Caramel Bits
- 2 tbs half and half
- 1 teas light corn syrup
- 1 teas vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Preparation:
Place Butterfinger bars in the freezer for at least 20 minutes before starting.
Wash and dry apples. Twist off the stem and place a wooden dowel, popsicle stick, or clean twig into the apples. Lay out a piece of wax paper to set apples on.
Unwrap Butterfinger bars and place in a gallon-sized bag and crush into small crumbs with the back of a spoon or a wooden rolling pin. Place crumbs on a large plate. Set aside.
Place caramels, half & half, corn syrup and salt together in a shallow bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments on high stirring at each stop. Repeat until well melted. Stir in vanilla extract and salt. (I microwaved mine for a total of 2 1/2 minutes before everything had melted and come together).
Roll an apple in caramel spooning some over the top. Let the excess drip off and spoon off the bottom. Dip the bottom in the crushed candy. Scoop up some of the candy and pat crumbs onto the sides of apples, patting with the back of a spoon if needed. Place apple on wax paper to set.
Reheat caramel between each apple for 15 to 20 seconds, if needed and repeat process with the rest of the apples.
I wasn’t sure I was going to do this, but after talking about Fables so much, I figured I should at least offer a copy for anyone who bothered to read to the bottom of the page.
Fables Vol 1, 2 & 3 Giveaway!
Leave a comment saying you would like to be entered to win a copy of Fables vol 1, 2 and 3 (seriously, you’ll be hooked) and tell me if you follow on Facebook, twitter, RSS, Foodbuzz, or any other form to be entered multiple times. Entries accepted through October 30th at Midnight EST. Winner will be announced on 11/02/11.
I have purchased vol 1 over 6 times myself due to it being lent out that many times, to multiple people and never finding its way home, or coming home with the pages falling out because some many people loved it. Our store has $1 sample issues of #1 – if anyone would seriously like to try it – I will mail you one.
Please note, that I am not saying that Once Upon a Time is a rip off of Fables, I am saying that Fables is awesome. End of story. If you are tuning into Walking Dead on Sunday nights on AMC, I highly suggest reading the original comics too (who knows, maybe I’ll do a giveaway for those someday too!).
My name is Kita. I am a 20 something girl geek and website/graphic designer who can rock an apron like there is no tomorrow. 
These look delicious!
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These are beautiful and your photography is stunning. I love a caramel apple — especially a good one like yours.
James Jean is fantastic. A few of my friends actually have tattoos of his work. Awesome stuff.
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Love these photos Kita! And I must get in on this Fables!!
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We Facebook!
We Tweet!
We Buzz!
I stalk you over RSS!
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Gorgeous looking apples!
I think my hubby would be in love with these Fables!
I follow you every way you mentioned – RSS Facebook, Foodbuzz, Twitter
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This is the best giveaway ever. I already have EVERYTHING Fable-related but I’m sure I’ve got friends I can Christmas this to who would go nutty over this.
And like Katrina…I stalk you as well: Facebook, Twitter (Sushi and Capt Hen), Foodbuzz and I hide out in the bushes outside your house to snap candids. That should be worth an extra entry, right?
BUZZED!
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First off your apple pictures are stunning! Love the twigs you have used, awesome! Secondly I am definitely going to check out Fables, it sounds very interesting.
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Beautiful photos. Just had a sneak peak at Fables on the web – looks great. Very like the Jasper Fforde books. i’ve just tweeted your enticing poisoned apples.
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I would very much like to try out this “Fables” series because as a folklorist I know that fairytales, fables, myths and legends are constantly being re-imagined. I really like your recipe for caramel apples, too, it’s a nice thing to see a little chocolate after being told on Top Chefs: Just Desserts two weeks back that chocolate and caramel apples don’t mix.
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What a good idea to use butterfingers on caramel apples! Kita- your photos are so gorgeous in this post!
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I’m following you with Google Reader and I’m entering this for my husband. As we discussed, he’s a huge graphic novel nerd (no offense to you!) and I’d love to surprise him with this. To top it off, he’s a big Butterfinger lover, so maybe I’ll whip up these apples to go with the books, if I win (:
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First – I love your apples and the rustic sticks make them that much more special. I went walking around in our yard looking for sticks to do that with a few weeks back and then decided I just couldn’t do it. So yay I’m glad you did!
twitter, facebook, su, rss, foodbuzz
We watched once upon a time this week and loved it – can’t wait for more!
I follow you in every way already
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Sounds exciting! I love a good fairy tale. I’d love to win.
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I would love to be entered
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These look so much fun and delicious!
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Gorgeous post. Fables sounds like an amazing graphic novel. Why, oh why, have I not heard of it? Maybe I truly live in a box. These apples, have mercy on me… just divine.
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gorgeous all around.
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Adoooorable
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The only way to make caramel apples better is to add candy. Omg, I want.
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The twigs are brilliant…these are beautiful and I would love to be able to eat one through my screen!
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This looks great! I agree with Amanda…the only way to make a caramel apple better is to add candy! YUMMM
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Way to kick these up a notch with the butterfingers! I just want to much to bottoms off all of these. Ooh. That sounded really bad. I guess I just realized I’m an apple bottom muncher. Take it for what you will
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Those colors! The photos are absolutely stunning.
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Fables! That would be perfect to have for Halloween! I’ve never read it, but always thought the art work was great when I’d go to the comic book store. I used to read Nightmares & Fairy Tales which was cutesy, dark and at times pretty bloody. Fables sounds like an interesting read though, I would love to enter.
And as for the apples, my roommate and I were just talking about making caramel apples within the next week. We were thinking traditional peanuts for a topping, but these look too delicious not to add butterfinger in the mix. Thanks!
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Butterfingers-this is really a delicious idea! It is nice to see a twist on the old tried and true caramel apple. Thanks for sharing-yum!
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Great picks and a great idea for those “poisonous apples.” You have me intrigued with the whole “Fables” scenario. I follow you on Foodbuzz.
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These look beautiful!
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Holy Moly I love your photos. I think the last one is my fave, I just LOVE the contrast of the dark wood against the apples. It goes without saying that I think Butterfinger Caramel Apples would be divine.
These Fables sound like fairy tales on steroids in a good way! You have me so excited I would buy them right now if you posted a link.
I didn’t get to see Once Upon a Time but I need to hunt down the episode(s). That would be two shows for me, the one who hates to follow “shows”! Lol!
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Kita Reply:
October 25th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
Lol, that was that other comic titles I was going to try to sell you if you liked Walking Dead (though not at all similar).
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These looks so good! I love your photos!!
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Ohh, I want to be included in the giveaway! These sound so cool! And I love the Walking Dead and have been wanting to read the comics for so long, so I would also love if you did one for those!
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Oh, and I follow you on facebook, twitter, and foodbuzz!
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I’ve heard of the books, but never read them. I’d love to be entered in the giveaway! The caramel apples are stunning and using twigs instead of popsicle sticks is stunning!
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…..and I follow you on google Follower
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I also like your facebook page (who doesn’t?)
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Looks heavenly!!
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Just found this blog yesterday and LOVE IT!!!
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Sorry, last comment got cut off!
Just liked you on Facebook and am now following you on Twitter!! I’d love to get hooked on Fables
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I love these photos! (And of course, the recipe sounds great too!)
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Great looking apples, your photography skills are excellent!!
Take care…
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I would love to be entered in!
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I follow your RSS feed!
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The food not only sounds great, but the pictures are BEAUTIFUL! Love what you did with the little twigs. Fun fun!
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