海角大神

The easiest peanut brittle ever!

I've loved Mom and Dad's peanut brittle for years. I just never knew they nuked it.

鈥�Microwave Magic鈥� was the title of the wood-grain folder where I found Mom and Dad鈥檚 peanut brittle recipe 鈥� in a collection of recipes by the home economist for West Florida Gas (why the gas company created an electric microwave cookbook is probably a reminder of what a phenom the microwave oven was in the '70s).

I found the hole-punched folder buried under a plastic bag jammed full of loose recipes in their kitchen drawer. I was instinctively skeptical of the peanut brittle recipe. The whole collection was loose leaf, sketchier than a bad church cookbook, and we鈥檙e all accustomed to slick books with alluring photos. I must have momentarily forgotten that some of the best recipes in the world are on smudged, hand-written 3-by-5 card and in hokey community cookbooks. Besides, I鈥檝e been eating and loving Mom and Dad鈥檚 peanut brittle for years. I just never knew they nuked it.

As it turns out, it鈥檚 about the easiest, no mess, foolproof peanut brittle I鈥檝e ever made. The equipment is straightforward 鈥� a 2-quart Pyrex measuring cup, some measuring spoons, a couple of measuring cups, a rubber spatuala, and a pizza pan. And the technique was utterly simple. Microwave peanuts, sugar, corn syrup and salt on high power for 7 to 8 minutes, stirring once at 4 minutes. Stir in another a little butter and vanilla; microwave another minute. Stir in baking soda, pour onto pizza pan, spread, cool, break up.

Why is peanut brittle so addictive? It could be because they鈥檙e like chips 鈥� you can endlessly pick at all the little shards, and eat a half bag without ever eating a whole chip. It could be that shatter-glass crunch and its simple clean favor. Or the fact that it鈥檚 both sweet and savory. In any case, when there鈥檚 peanut brittle in the cookie jar, I鈥檓 a hopeless picker.

Mom asked me if I wanted to take some peanut brittle home with me. There was a time I would have said yes. Instead I asked for a couple cups of raw peanuts. Why take home a few pieces of brittle when in about 20 minutes, I can have two pizza pans filled with the stuff?

The Easiest Peanut Brittle Ever!

1 cup raw peanuts
聽1 cup granulated sugar
聽1/2 cup light corn syrup
聽1/8 teaspoon salt
聽1 teaspoon each: butter and vanilla extract
聽1 teaspoon baking soda

Spray a 12-inch round pizza pan or other similar size baking sheets with vegetable cooking spray; set side.

Mix peanuts, sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a 2-quart Pyrex measuring cup. Microwave on high power, until nuts are fragrant and syrup is bubbly, stirring after 4 minutes, 7 to 8 minutes depending your microwave鈥檚 wattage. Stir in butter and vanilla; continue to microwave on high power until nuts are golden brown, 1 minute longer. Stir in baking soda and then immediately pour onto on prepared pan. Working quickly, spread to desired thickness. Let stand until completely cool, about 30 minutes. Break into pieces. (Can be stored in a tin a couple of weeks 鈥� if you can make it last that long.)

Pam Anderson blogs with her daughters at .

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