Holiday Bonding

My daughters Christine and Melissa just love to bake. Christine drove out from Connecticut for the holiday weekend and the kitchen was rarely quiet. Chocolate peanut butter cupcakes and peanut brittle were just a few of the highlights.

The peanut brittle was so easy and such fun to make. Here's the recipe we used:

2 cups sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1/3 cup water

1 pound natural, unsalted peanuts

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons butter

2 teaspoons baking soda

In a medium pot cook the sugar, corn syrup and water over medium-high heat until it boils. Turn heat down to medium and continue simmering and stirring occasionally until candy thermometer reaches 250 degrees. Stir in the peanuts and salt and continue cooking until temperature reaches 295 degrees. Remove from heat and quickly stir in butter and baking soda. Now the color will darken and it will begin to look like molten peanut brittle. Pour and spread the entire mixture onto a well buttered large cookie sheet. Let cool and break up the slab into smaller pieces. Store in and air tight container and have fun eating!