Marshmallow Nougat Food

CLASSIC NOUGAT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Scatter the nuts over a baking tray and toast in the oven for 10 mins, then set aside (they don't need to cool). Cut the two pieces of rice paper to fit a 20 x 20cm square tin. Line the tin with one sheet of rice paper, brush the sides of the tin with oil, then dust the tin with icing sugar.
• Put the honey into a saucepan, then in another saucepan tip in the sugar, glucose and 100ml of water. Put the egg whites in the very clean bowl of a tabletop mixer with a whisk attachment and whisk on a low speed. Heat and boil the honey until it reaches 121C on a digital cooking thermometer, then straightaway pour the honey over the egg whites and set the speed to medium. While the whites and honey are whisking, bring the sugar and water to the boil and keep boiling until the syrup reaches 145C exactly on a digital cooking thermometer. Pour the hot syrup in a slow, steady stream into the beating egg white mixture. Continue beating for about 10 mins until you have a thick, glossy, firm meringue. It's hard to over-whisk at this stage but easy to under-whisk, so keep going until the meringue looks like sticky chewing gum.
• Use a spatula to stir though the nuts (which should still be warm), the vanilla extract and a small pinch of salt. Scrape the mixture into the lined tin, then smooth over to spread the mixture out evenly (if you have an offset spatula, now is the time to use it). Finally, top with the remaining sheet of rice paper and press down. Leave the nougat to set for at least 2 hrs or overnight.
• To turn out and portion, use a spatula to loosen the edges of the nougat away from the tin, then invert the tin on to a clean board and use a sharp serated, hot knife to portion into bars or squares. The nougat will keep, stored in an airtight container, for up to a month.

NOUGAT

Steps:

• Line the sides and base of a 4 by 6-inch baking pan with rice paper. Whisk the egg white in a heatproof bowl until stiff.
• Combine the sugar, glucose, honey and water in a small saucepan. Stir over very low heat until the mixture reaches the small crack stage, or 275 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. While whisking, drizzle the syrup into the egg white and continue whisking until glossy and beginning to stiffen.
• Stir in the almonds, and spread the mixture over the rice paper in the prepared pan, pressing it down well. Cover with another layer of rice paper, and place a light weight evenly over the top. Leave nougat until cold, and then cut into squares, wrap in waxed paper, and store in an airtight container.

CARAMEL NOUGAT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Line 17x11x1 baking pan with parchment paper Cookie Layer: In a large mixing bowl, beat 1 cup butter, brown sugar and 1/4 cup white sugar until creamy.
• Add pudding mix, eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla, mix well.
• Blend together flour, soda and salt, gradually mix into sugar mixture.
• Mix in 1 1/3 cup butterscotch chips.
• Spread onto prepared pan.
• Bake 10-11 minutes, until light golden brown.
• To create a chewier cookie base, hold pan 2-3 inches above counter and allow to drop.
• Place on cooling rack, cool completely.
• Nougat Layer: In a medium heavy sauce pan over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup butter, 1 cup sugar and evaporated milk.
• Stirring constantly, bring to boil, stirring constantly, cook 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Add marshmallow creme, 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla.
• Stir in peanuts.
• Spread on cooled cookie layer.
• Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Caramel Layer: In medium heavy saucepan, over low heat combine caramels and cream.
• Heat until blended, stirring constantly.
• Cool until just warm.
• Spread over nougat layer.
• Refrigerate 15 minutes.
• Chocolate Layer: In a medium micowave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips, 1/3 cup butterscotch chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter for 1 minute at power level 7 (70%).
• Stir, heat another 30 seconds.
• Stir until smooth.
• Spread over caramel layer.
• Let chocolate layer harden before cutting into 1 inch squares.
• Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

CARAMEL NOUGAT CANDY

Steps:

• In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate; stir until smooth. Stir in marshmallow creme and peanut butter. Let stand 5 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Roll into 3/4-in. balls., In another microwave-safe bowl, melt caramels with water; stir until smooth. Dip balls in caramel; allow excess to drip off. Roll in peanuts and place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Chill until firm. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.