2.16.2012

Peanut Brittle Easy

The family loves this candy. They especially love the part where you add the baking soda and it looks like something the dog pooed out!

Ingredients
  • 1 cup sugar 
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup (low salt) roasted peanuts 
  • 2 tbsp butter 
  • 1 tsp baking soda 
Instructions
  • Grease or spray a large cookie sheet and set aside.
  • Combine sugar, salt, water and light corn syrup in a heavy saucepan.  Heat on medium high and stir until sugar dissolves.  Stir in peanuts.  Set up a candy thermometer and heat and stir until mixture reaches 300°F (150°C).  Make sure to stir frequently or the peanuts towards the bottom will burn.
  • Remove from heat.  Immediately add butter, stir in to melt.  Get the kids and add the baking soda; let them watch it fizz up and turn color, ewww!
  • Pour and spread the mixture out onto the prepared cookie sheet.  Let it harden, break into pieces and eat.
Source:  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/moms-best-peanut-brittle/

12.21.2011

Treacle Tart - Harry Potter's Favorite Hogwarts Dessert

Treacle, or Lyle's Golden syrup, can be found at food stores with an international section. I found some at my local World Market Explorer in Southern California. This dessert is super sweet it almost hurts the teeth to eat it!




Ingredients
  • store bought refrigerated pie crust
  • OR make pastry crust (use recipe below or your favorite tart dough recipe

Pastry Crust

  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 stick (½ cup) cold butter, cut into small cubes
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • ⅛ cup cold water

Filling

  • 1 cup Lyle's Golden Syrup
  • 1½ cups fresh bread crumbs (put 4 slices white bread in food processor and pulse until crumbs)
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest (optional)
Instructions
  • Crust: In a food processor add flour, salt, sugar and pulse to combine. Add butter cubes and process until mixture gets to a coarse meal texture. Through the feed tube, add water slowly and pulse until the dough comes together when pinched.
  • Remove dough onto a floured surface and gather into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and flatten dough into a disc shape. Refrigerate 1 hour. Crust should fill one pie/tart pan, or 12 muffin cups, or 6 four-inch mini-tart pans with enough scraps to decorate the tops with some pastry cut-outs.
  • Filling: In a saucepan or microwaveable bowl, heat the syrup slightly to thin the consistency, making it easier to mix with the other ingredients. Add bread crumbs, lemon juice and zest and stir to combine thoroughly.
  • Assembly: Roll pastry dough into an 11 inch circle; use plenty of flour on the work surface and rolling pin. Fold the dough circle in half, then in half again, before transferring to the pie or tart pan. Gently unfold and pat the dough into the pan. For the mini tarts, roll out the dough and cut 4-6 inch circles, then pat dough into the pans. Use excess dough scraps to make a lattice top or cut out shapes to decorate the tops of the tarts.
  • Spoon the filling into the tart pan(s). Add decorations on top of the filling and brush with egg wash.
  • Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Remove and let cool, unmold the tart carefully and serve with unsweetened whipped cream and some raspberries for garnish. Or with vanilla ice cream it is delicious.

If you can't find the golden syrup locally, here's a source. I use mini tart pans similar to the Wilton ones, but mine don't have the removable bottoms, which are a really nice feature.

      

References:

12.05.2011

Scalloped Potatoes w Enough Sauce

Many scalloped potatoes recipes online don't make enough sauce the way we like it so I'm writing this down for myself.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups thinly sliced potatoes (about 1/2 of a 5 lb bag)
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 4 tbsp flour
  • 3 cups milk or half and half
  • 1½ tsp salt (or more to taste)
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper, or dash of cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 small onion, finely chopped (optional)
  • 4 slices American or other cheese, optional

Instructions

  • Sauté the onion in olive oil or butter. Season with salt.
  • Melt butter in saucepan. Add flour and whisk, cooking the flour for 1 minute. Add the milk, salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil, whisking The sauce often. When it thickens, lower the heat and add the onions and cheese.
  • Spray an 8 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray. Add half of the sliced potatoes. Pour half of the sauce over the potatoes, then add the rest of them. Pour the rest of the sauce on top. Top with French fried onions or grated cheese if desired.
  • Bake at 350°F for 1 hour and 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender and done.