posted by Angel 12-05-99 6:02 PM
Peanut Brittle
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. KaroŽ syrup
1/4 c. water
dash of salt
2 Tbsp. real butter
1 c. raw peanuts
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. soda
First you pick a time when the kids are gone and you've shipped the old boy off fishing. You lock the doors and take the phone off the hook and proceed with the art of making peanut brittle.
In a pan, you measure sugar, Karo syrup, water and salt. Turn the fire down low and while this mixture is
warming up, measure out the butter, raw peanuts, vanilla and soda.
Grease a cookie sheet with the real butter and return to your mixture on the stove. But be sure to have a medium size bowl of cold water close by, this is for testing.
Now you have all of these items measured out, turn the fire up a little higher and start stirring. You don't have too much trouble with it burning at this point, but after the butter goes in, watch out. The mixture on the stove will start to boil and should boil for about 5 or 6 minutes.
Now you want to test it by dropping a little off the spoon into the cold water you didn't forget to put out. As the mixture falls in the water, it hardens. When you are able to "snap" or "crack" that which
has fallen into the water with your fingers, you're ready to move to the next
Now you take the butter and peanuts that you've measured out ahead of time and add to the mixture of Karo syrup and stir until a light brown, about the color of a brown lunch bag. At first it's going to be hard to stir but as it cooks, it gets easier.
Then turn the fire off and add the soda and vanilla. Stir for about 2 minutes or until the foam has settled down and then pour onto a buttered cookie sheet. Take your spoon and spread it as thin as you can and let it cool. When you're done, don't forget to put the phone back on the hook.