The Freshman Cook: November 2016

Saturday, November 26, 2016

A Trio of Brittle / #SundaySupper

If you love making sweet treats for friends, family, co-workers, and just about everyone you know, you are going to love this Trio of Brittle! I have been making brittle for at least 10 years, maybe longer. It all started when I wanted to make a gift for some long time friends, and I could not decide what to make for them. Having had known them a while, they had already tried it all! So I came up with these brittles, and about 10 other flavors, and the rest is small time history!

Today I made Hot and Spicy Peanut Brittle, Cashew Brittle, and Turtle Brittle. If you have never made brittle before, you should know that it requires patience, and a really, really good candy thermometer! But homemade brittle is worth the time and energy. Once you make this, you will never buy it again. You will make it forever, mostly because your friends and family will always want more!

A Trio of Brittle

(Printable recipe at end of post)

2 cups Sugar
1 cup Light Corn Syrup
1/2 cup Water
3 cups Cashew Pieces or (1 cup caramel bits+1 cup chopped chocolate + 2 cups Pecans) or (25 ounces of Hot and Spicy Peanuts)
1 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Butter
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
Pan Spray
Baking Sheets or Shallow Pans

This is the basic brittle recipe. In the recipe above I have listed "3 cups of Cashew Pieces" as an ingredient. That is the only ingredient that changes. The rest of the recipe stays the same. So, lets make Cashew Brittle first!

Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook slowly until the sugar dissolves. The temperature needs to reach 275 degrees in about 40-45 minutes. I always use 2 thermometers when making candies. Just in case!

Add the cashew pieces. I buy these at Trader Joes, and I love them for snacks! Cook until the temperature reaches 295 degrees, about 15 or 20 minutes longer. While the mix is coming up to temperature, spray the baking sheet with a light coating of pan spray, and set aside.

Remove from heat and stir in butter. Add salt and baking soda. The mix will start to change color and rise in the pan. Stir quickly.

Quickly pour it onto the baking sheet, spreading it out as evenly as you can. Set aside to cool completely.

Let's make the Turtle Brittle by boiling the sugar, corn syrup and water together until the temperature reaches 275 degrees.

Add only 2 cups of pecans and continue cooking until the mix reaches 295 degrees. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter. Add salt and baking soda and stir. Pour mixture onto baking sheet. Spread mix as evenly as possible.

Begin dropping the caramel bits and the chopped chocolate onto the mix. As it sits on the brittle, it will begin to melt into the mix. If you want to push the caramel bits down into the mix more, use a flat spatula. The mix is still very hot. Set aside to cool completely.

For the Spicy Peanut Brittle, once again let the first three ingredients cook until they reach 275 degrees.

Add the spicy peanuts until the temperature reaches 295 degrees, Remove from heat Add butter and stir. Add salt and baking soda and stir immediately.

Quickly pour onto baking sheet and evenly spread. Let cool.

Let all the brittles sit until completely cooled. It takes about 20 minutes for each.

Once the brittle is cooled off, begin to crack the bars. They will randomly crack in their own way. I like small bite size pieces, but they don't always break that way. Store in sealed bags or containers until you are ready to give them as gifts or enjoy yourself!

Thank you so much for joining me today! If you have any questions or concerns about this recipe, please leave me a message in the comments and I will answer you promptly!

Thank you to Christie from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures for hosting today's gift giving challenge!

Scroll down to see what yummy goodies #SundaySupper members have been creating!

Baked Goods

Cinnamon and Spice Granola by Simple and Savory
Coconut Macaroon Tarts by Asian In America
Cranberry Coffee Cake by Food Done Light
Mini Pumpkin Breads by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Snowman Poop by Palatable Pastime

Candy

A Trio of Brittle by The Freshman Cook
Grandma’s Peanut Butter Balls by Cricket’s Confections
Homemade Peanut Brittle by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Homemade Twix Bars by Pies and Plots
Peanut Butter Fudge by Family Around The Table
Superfoods Fruit & Nut Bites by My Life Cookbook
Toffee Candied Peanuts by New South Charm
Turron de Jijona (Spanish Soft Nougat) by Caroline’s Cooking

Chocolate

Espresso Fudge by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix by My Imperfect Kitchen
Peppermint Bark Candy by Life Tastes Good
Peppermint Bark Popcorn by A Mind “Full” Mom
Red Wine Hot Fudge Sauce by The Crumby Cupcake

Jams, Syrups, Drinks

Blood and Sand Jam by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Creamy Lemoncello by Monica’s Table
Warm Gingerbread Syrup by Food Lust People Love

Mixes and Spices

Cherry Almond Scone Mix by Baking Sense
Cranberry Almond Quick Bread Mix by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Lavender-infused Sugar and Lazy Shortbread by Sunday Supper Movement

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Author: The Freshman Cookprint recipe

A Trio of Brittle

prep time: 30 MINScook time: 1 hour and 15 MINStotal time: 1 hours and 45 mins

INGREDIENTS:

Cashew Brittle

2 cups Sugar
1 cup Light Corn Syrup
1/2 cup Water
3 cups Cashew
1 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Butter
2 teaspoons Baking Soda

Turtle Brittle

2 cups Sugar
1 cup Light Corn Syrup
1/2 cup Water
2 cups Pecans
1/2 cup Caramel Bits
4 ounce Chocolate Chunks
1 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Butter
2 teaspoons Baking Soda

Hot and Spicy Peanut Brittle

2 cups Sugar
1 cup Light Corn Syrup
1/2 cup Water
25 ounces Hot and Spicy Peanuts
1 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Butter
2 teaspoons Baking Soda

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cashew Brittle

Combine the sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook slowly until the sugar dissolves. The temperature needs to reach 275 degrees in about 40-45 minutes. I always use 2 thermometers when making candies. Just in case!
Add the cashew pieces. Cook until the temperature reaches 295 degrees, about 15 or 20 minutes longer. While the mix is coming up to temperature, spray the baking sheet with a light coating of pan spray, and set aside.
Remove from heat and stir in butter. Add salt and baking soda. The mix will start to change color and rise in the pan. Stir quickly.
Quickly pour it onto the baking sheet, spreading it out as evenly as you can. Set aside to cool completely.
Once the brittle is cooled off, begin to crack the bars. They will randomly crack in their own way. I like small bite size pieces, but they don't always break that way. Store in sealed bags or containers until you are ready to give them as gifts or enjoy yourself!

Turtle Brittle

Let's make the Turtle Brittle by boiling the sugar, corn syrup and water together until the temperature reaches 275 degrees.
Add only 2 cups of pecans and continue cooking until the mix reaches 295 degrees. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter. Add salt and baking soda and stir. Pour mixture onto baking sheet. Spread mix as evenly as possible.
Begin dropping the caramel bits and the chopped chocolate onto the mix. As it sits on the brittle, it will begin to melt into the mix. If you want to push the caramel bits down into the mix more, use a flat spatula. The mix is still very hot. Set aside to cool completely.
Once the brittle is cooled off, begin to crack the bars. They will randomly crack in their own way. I like small bite size pieces, but they don't always break that way. Store in sealed bags or containers until you are ready to give them as gifts or enjoy yourself!

Spicy Peanut Brittle

For the Spicy Peanut Brittle, once again let the first three ingredients cook until they reach 275 degrees.
Add the spicy peanuts until the temperature reaches 295 degrees, Remove from heat Add butter and stir. Add salt and baking soda and stir immediately.
Quickly pour onto baking sheet and evenly spread. Let cool.
Once the brittle is cooled off, begin to crack the bars. They will randomly crack in their own way. I like small bite size pieces, but they don't always break that way. Store in sealed bags or containers until you are ready to give them as gifts or enjoy yourself!

http://www.thefreshmancook.com/2016/11/a-trio-of-brittle-sundaysupper.html

Created using The Recipes Generator

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Celebrate It! Blog Link Party!

Welcome to Celebrate It!

Hello and Welcome to Celebrate It! Blog Link Party!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

On that note, let me tell you that I am so thankful for all of you who stop by to link up and share what you have been creating!
You are very much appreciated! Thank you!

Last weeks 3 most clicked links:

Setting the Thanksgiving Table

from

Woods of Bell Trees

How to Make Turkey Gravy without Drippings

from

The Ramblings of an Aspiring Small Town Girl

Make Your Own Winter Preparedness Kit

from

Quirky Inspired

An InLinkz Link-up

Let's get to the party!

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Country Skillet Breakfast / #SundaySupper

When you plan your Holiday meals, do you also plan what you will make with any leftovers you might end up with? How about a Country Skillet Breakfast! That's what we are talking about today. For Thanksgiving this year, I am serving both turkey and ham. I already know there will be ham left over. Most of my guests will enjoy the turkey, some will enjoy ham and a few will become a little full on both! I am offering the ham because we have a rather large group, and with both meats on the table, there is enough for everyone. The turkey will go first, and there will definitely be some leftover ham. I am trying a new type of ham this year. It is a boneless, spiral cut ham! Have you seen these? They are wonderful and tasty! There is no waste at all, and every bit of the ham can be eaten! I love that!
Knowing that I will have leftover ham, I am planning this Country Skillet Breakfast for my guests on Friday morning. It is easy to put together, and if you chop the onion, potatoes, and ham the night before, this skillet breakfast will be quick along with delicious!

Country Skillet Breakfast
(printable recipe at end of post)
(makes 1 skillet)
Butter
3 small Red Potatoes (5-6 ounces) (chopped into bite size pieces)
1 1/2 ounces yellow Onion, chopped
5-6 ounces Ham, chopped
1/4 cup shredded 4 Cheese
2 Eggs
Sour Cream
1 fresh Chive, chopped

Pan grill the potatoes in butter. Grill until they become lightly browned.

In another pan, melt butter and saute onions until soft. After onions become soft, add ham. Let onions and ham cook together for 2 minutes.

Add onions and ham to the potatoes. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Add a light sprinkle of shredded cheese and mix.

Cook two eggs, how you like them.

Add the potato mix to the skillet. Sprinkle cheese on top. Reserve a teaspoon of cheese.

Place the eggs on top of the potatoes. Place a small scoop on top of the eggs. Sprinkle with pepper, chives and the reserved cheese.

This recipe also works when made with leftover turkey!
Thanks so much for joining me today!

Thank you also, to Christie, from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures for hosting this tasty event!

Scroll down and find many tasty recipes and see what my #SundaySupper friends are planning to make with their Holiday Leftovers!

Sides

Baked Mashed Potato Pancakes by Pies and Plots
Bubble Up Hot Brown Casserole by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
Leftover Mashed Potato Puffs by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

Soups

Arroz Caldo with Turkey by Asian In America
Leftover Turkey Tortilla Soup by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Lemony Chicken-Lentil Soup with Couscous by What Smells So Good?
Turkey Glass Noodle Salad by Sunday Supper Movement

Author: The Freshman Cookprint recipe