Not Recommended For Sore Throats
Photo by Allysa/flickr.com
Passing by some peanut brittle at the grocery store the other day reminded me of a funny story. Many years ago one of my aunts had to go into the hospital for some minor throat surgery. The surgery went fine; the doctor said it would take a couple weeks for her throat to heal. This meant no solid foods for at least the first week. So my aunts menu pretty much consisted of ice cream, pudding, jell-o almost anything that was soft and cold or could be sipped through a straw. It’s not hard to enjoy ice cream and pudding for a couple of days but by the third day you are pretty hungry and are craving some serious food.
I believe my aunt was into her fourth day of recovery and an old friend stopped by with wrapped gift in hand. My aunt was happy to see her friend even though she couldn’t get the thought of sinking her teeth into some solid food off her mind. Her friend said here, this is for you it might help take your mind off of things; I know it is one of your favorites. I’m sure you all can guess what it was…..you got it; it was a nice big box of homemade peanut brittle. My aunt didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, her friend cried when she realized what she had done. Obviously it was not intentional; I think we all felt sorrier for the friend than we did for my aunt (how embarrassing). Needless to say everyone survived, my aunt got to eat eventually, her friend never lived it down and we inherited a funny story to tell at any given opportunity.
Peanut Brittle
2 cups peanuts (may substitute any nut)
I believe my aunt was into her fourth day of recovery and an old friend stopped by with wrapped gift in hand. My aunt was happy to see her friend even though she couldn’t get the thought of sinking her teeth into some solid food off her mind. Her friend said here, this is for you it might help take your mind off of things; I know it is one of your favorites. I’m sure you all can guess what it was…..you got it; it was a nice big box of homemade peanut brittle. My aunt didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, her friend cried when she realized what she had done. Obviously it was not intentional; I think we all felt sorrier for the friend than we did for my aunt (how embarrassing). Needless to say everyone survived, my aunt got to eat eventually, her friend never lived it down and we inherited a funny story to tell at any given opportunity.
Peanut Brittle
2 cups peanuts (may substitute any nut)
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup white Karo syrup
Butter a cookie sheet and set aside. Mix water, sugar, peanuts, and syrup in a 2 quart sauce pan. Bring to a boil.
Cook until candy thermometer reaches hard crack stage (310°F). Remove from heat.
Quickly stir in baking soda and butter, as it will harden rapidly.
Pour quickly onto a buttered cookie sheet and let stand for about an hour to cool.
Break up into pieces.
Butter a cookie sheet and set aside. Mix water, sugar, peanuts, and syrup in a 2 quart sauce pan. Bring to a boil.
Cook until candy thermometer reaches hard crack stage (310°F). Remove from heat.
Quickly stir in baking soda and butter, as it will harden rapidly.
Pour quickly onto a buttered cookie sheet and let stand for about an hour to cool.
Break up into pieces.
6 comments:
Now that's a story! I love Peanut Brittle. Unfortunately, with my dental issues, I think my doc. appts. will never end!
Very funny! And the brittle looks great too!
Thank you Nic, glad it gave you a chuckle for the day.
Thanks Chris, you'd get a kick out of the two sisters when they are together it's never a dull moment.
Do you use cooked or raw peanuts? I've been told that using raw, and letting the nuts cook in the brittle, results in more favor. Never tried it myself, though.
I used cooked Michael but it makes sense that the raw peanuts would give it more flavor, I'll have to try that.
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