Peanut Brittle

Traditional peanut brittle recipes are difficult to make, requiring constant vigilance, stirring, and precise temperatures that can only be maintained with a candy thermometer.  Mom's recipe is the complete opposite and requires only a microwave and a few minutes of your time.  That, of course, makes it both fabulous and easy.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 dash salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda

To begin, mix one and a half cups of dry roasted peanuts, a cup of sugar, half a cup of light corn syrup, and a dash of salt in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl.  Cook for seven minutes on high, but only if you have a 700 watt microwave.  If you have a higher wattage microwave, you'll have to decrease the power accordingly.  For instance, Mom has a 1000 watt microwave, so she has to decrease it to 70% power.

At the end of seven minutes, the mixture should be bubbly and the peanuts browned.  Remove the mixture from the microwave.  Quickly stir in a tablespoon of butter and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.  Return the mixture to the microwave and cook for an additional three minutes.

After three minutes, remove the mixture from the microwave and quickly stir in one teaspoon of baking soda.  The mixture will again be foamy.  Immediately pour the mixture onto a greased baking sheet.  Allow it to cool for at least 15 minutes.  Then break the candy into pieces and store in an airtight container.  You'll want this candy to stay at room temperature, so don't put it in the refrigerator.