A Cold Winter Day Means Peanut Brittle In The Microwave & Avoiding The Calories

WHAT do you do when it is too cold

to go out to the playhouse?

We have had WEEKS of this.

In this picture that "foggy" look is 

snow coming down and blowing.

That innocent looking drift goes almost to my waist.

So...

WE are going to make Peanut Brittle today.

Or, in my case, 

ALMOND BRITTLE.

I found the recipe at Roxy's Living From Glory To Glory

I will include the recipe at the end.

Here is what you need:

Sugar, Karo Syrup, Peanuts (or almonds),

Butter, Vanilla & Baking Soda.

Make sure you use a 

LARGE PRYEX MEASURING CUP/BOWL!

(not all bowls will take this kind of heat)

Mix the sugar and Karo together.

It will make a pasty mess that you can hardly stir.

Pop it in the microwave for 3 minutes 40 seconds

While this is cooking HEAVILY BUTTER a cookie sheet.

Remove mixture from oven and 

add 2 cups of  peanuts or almonds.

DO NOT STIR-just push them down into sugar

Don't freak out cuz they barely fit into the sugary stuff.

.Ummm...that is NOT my hair in there

regardless of what my kids might tell you.

After 2-1/2 mintues remove and add 

the butter and vanilla.

AGAIN- DO NOT STIR.

Nuke another minute and half and remove 

and add baking soda.

NOW YOU MUST STIR FAST!

It is gonna froth and bubble like a witch's cauldron.

What did you say?

Who you calling a witch?

 QUICKLY spread onto buttered cookie sheet.

Use the back of a buttered spoon to spread it thin.

It will look a mess but don't worry about it.

I waited a tad too long taking pictures so this is not spread as 

thin as the last time I made it.

Then, I covered it with tinfoil and put it on the 

shoveled off back deck to cool. 

Weather temp is Zero-It cooled fast!;>)

Otherwise, inside it hardens in about 45 mintues.

Once it is set break it up into pieces.

Now...Here is

THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTRUCTION.

HIDE IT!!!!

And break off little pieces when no one is home.......

Shhhh...It's our SWEET LITTLE secret!

And if you tell I will make you go sit in the playhouse...it is NOT heated!

Oh- I almost forgot-How do you

AVOID THE CALORIES?

Don't eat it! Just feed it to your friends.

Remember- The fatter they get the 

skinnier you look standing next to them!

Here's the recipe:

Peanut  Brittle

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup Karo syrup

2 scant cups nuts

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

In a 2-quart Pyrex bowl, stir together 1 cup sugar and ½ cup white syrup) 

Microwave on high for 3 minutes, 40 seconds.

Remove from microwave and add 2 scant cups (cups not quite full) dry roasted salted peanuts. Punch them down into the mixture. Do not stir.

Return to microwave and cook for 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and add — but don't stir —1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 teaspoon butter. Microwave for 1 minute, 30 seconds.

Remove from microwave and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon baking soda. Stir the mixture. It will foam. Immediately pour mixture onto the heavily buttered surface. Drag the bowl along to make sure the mixture is flat. Using a spatula, lift the candy and scoot it around, so it doesn't stick to the surface. Let the mixture cool until completely hardened, about 45 minutes. Break into pieces.

As a side note- I made this in two different microwaves with different power levels/wattage.  It came out perfectly in both of them.  The time might be off for the really low wattage (700-800W) microwaves. Those are the older ones-most newer ones are at least 1000W. 

.