Peanut Butter Brittle

In the process of making treats for our trip (more on that later) i decided to try a new recipe, Peanut Butter Popcorn. Well, as sometimes happens it didn't quite turn out the first time, in fact it was a total disaster! however much this was true the result of that disaster was surprisingly delicious and as i watched the sauce harden (before adding the popcorn, thankfully) i realized it was turning into a brittle. I had accidentally created Peanut Butter Brittle! What a crazy and wonderful thing; One of my favorite things about cooking is the creation of new things out of what seemed to be a disaster. So remember, always taste your disasters before throwing them out (well, sometimes anyway). 

Peanut Butter Brittle

Adapted (sort of) from A Cozy Kitchen

Ingredients: 

1 C. Granulated Sugar

1 C. Corn Syrup 

1 C. Unsweetened Peanut Butter

1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract   

Directions: 

Prepare cookie sheet, line with wax paper or Silpat, set aside. 

Mix the corn syrup and sugar over medium heat until combined. Let mixture come to a boil and continue cooking until it starts to turn a golden brown, swirling the pot occasionally to mix ingredients (don't stir). Remove from heat and pour in Peanut butter followed by vanilla extract. Stir together until mixture starts to thicken. Pour out onto cookie sheet lined with wax paper and spread with silicone spatula into a square or rectangular shape. Allow to cool completely and break into pieces. Enjoy!!

Peppermint Patties

Okay folks, here it is...Peppermint patties. A while back, in March of this year, my good friend Betty married her perfect match Ian in a beautiful ceremony and a lovely reception, where my dear friend Oksana and I we're honored to give a speech as the matron of honor's, thankfully we did it together, because I'm no speech maker and trying to find the perfect words at your best friends wedding is well challenging, but that's my perfectionist side talking, what a joy to express the joy we felt for her that day! Well, on to the main point, at their reception they had this great thing called a candy bar and one of the candies we're York peppermint patties (a childhood favorite of mine). So then it got me thinking about how to make them; five months later and i finally did it. And they we're a hit! the hubby said they tasted just like a york patty and on our camping trip they we're the fastest of the two treats i brought along to disappear. A must try, seriously these are so fun to  make, and easy and delicious! what are you waiting for?! 

Peppermint Patties
Adapted from Savory Sweet Life 

Ingredients:

1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
3-51/2 C. Powdered Sugar, Sifted (i used about 4)
1 Tbs Peppermint Extract
3 C. Chocolate Chips
3 Tbs Shortening  

Directions:
Mix sweetened condensed milk with 2 cups of powdered sugar on medium speed til combined. Mix in peppermint extract followed by more powdered sugar a 1/2 C. at a time until dough is firm but still pliable. Roll about a teaspoon of dough into small ball, press gently onto wax paper to form a disc shape, transfer patties to freezer for no longer than 30 minutes.
Meanwhile melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler of simmering water. add in the shortening and stir to thin out.
take out the patties, one tray at a time and dip into the chocolate, using a fork, Allow the chocolate to drip off fork then gently move back to wax paper. Continue this process until all the patties have been covered in chocolate. Let air dry and Enjoy!!

Makes about 20 large pieces or 32 (depending on size of patty)

Cracker Crunch

Cracker crunch, saltine candy, personally my favorite name for this treat is Scooby Snacks, but no matter what name you choose, yummy is what you will say when you take that first bite and I can say with some confidence that it will soon become a family favorite. I just love that salty sweet combination, don’t you?! I was first introduced to this candy at bible study in high school and then again when I got married. It is very easy to make, a great potluck contribution and an unexpected surprise to a lot as it uses an ingredient that most (I find) wouldn’t expect in a candy….Saltine Crackers!

Just talking about it makes me want to go make it, well, that and my husband keeps asking for it, ha-ha!