Spiced Walnut Brittle Food

FALL SALAD WITH SPICY BRITTLE

Steps:

• For the spicy brittle: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Heat the sugar, corn syrup, butter and 1/2 cup water in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until the sugar has melted. Stop stirring and continue to cook, swirling the pan occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly, until the mixture reaches 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 10 minutes. While this is cooking, combine the chili powder, cumin, and cayenne in a small bowl.
• Carefully, but moving quickly, stir the almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios and spice mixture into the sugar syrup until the nuts are coated. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet, spreading it out as evenly as possible using the back of a spoon. Sprinkle over the sea salt. Allow to cool completely, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. When cool, break into shards.
• For the salad: Fry the bacon in a skillet until crisp. Reserve 1 tablespoon bacon fat in the skillet.
• When ready to serve, arrange the salad on a large platter in layers: escarole, radicchio, carrots, apples, onion, raisins and bacon.
• Heat the skillet with the bacon fat over medium heat. Add the vinaigrette, mustard and honey and cook, stirring, until warm. Pour the dressing over the salad. Arrange the spicy brittle shards over the top. Serve immediately.

NUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Put the nuts, sugar, butter, corn syrup, and honey in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until it becomes a nice walnut color and thickens, about 10 to 12 minutes. Quickly pour onto a silpat or foil lined baking sheet and spread the brittle to an even thickness of about 1/3-inch with the back of the spoon.
• Cool for 3 or 4 minutes then score the brittle with a sharp knife into about 24 (2-inch) squares. Once the brittle has cooled completely, snap along scored marks.

FRUIT AND NUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line two baking trays with baking parchment. Put the sugar in a pan and place over a low heat. shake the pan gently until the sugar starts to form small clumps. It will gradually start to melt and turn a dark caramel colour when it has done this take it off the heat.
• When it gets this colour mix in the nuts and glace cherries (if using), then pour the mixture onto the lined baking trays. Leave to cool.
• when the brittle is completely cold and hard break it into shards and either eat it or wrap it up as a present.

WALNUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Mix sugar and corn syrup in a microwave-safe dish.
• Microwave mixture for three (3) minutes.
• Stir again and place in the microwave for an additional four (4) minutes.
• Stir in walnuts, salt, vanilla and butter.
• Mix with Electric Mixer until mixture is well blended and Fluffy.
• Grease a cookie sheet with butter.
• Spread mixture on cookie sheet in any desired thickness.
• After candy cools SLIGHTLY stretch the brittle to your desired thickness.
• Cool at least one hour.
• When cooled break into pieces and store in covered (tight) container.

WALNUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Shake nuts in a sieve to remove nut powder (this will make for a clearer brittle.)
• Line a baking sheet with nonstick pad or with an oiled sheet of foil.
• Heat sugar and water in a deep 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring slowly with a fork, until melted and pale golden. Cook caramel without stirring, gently swirling pan, until golden. Stir in walnuts, then immediately pour caramel onto baking sheet, tilting sheet to spread caramel as thin as possible. Cool brittle completely at room temperature.
• Coarsely chop enough brittle to measure 1/2 cup, then break remainder into shards for decorating cake.

SPICED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275°. In a bowl, beat egg white and water until foamy. Add walnuts. In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Add nut mixture; toss to coat. , Transfer to greased baking sheets. Bake until toasted and crisp, 45-50 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.

QUICK PEANUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Melt the sugar in a medium frying pan over a medium heat for 4-5 mins until caramelised - it should be a dark amber colour. Don't stir, as this causes the sugar to crystallise - instead, tilt the pan slowly so the sugar melts evenly.
• Add the peanuts, stir with a wooden spoon, then quickly and carefully tip onto the prepared tray. Immediately sprinkle over the sea salt flakes and leave to cool until set. Will keep for several weeks in an airtight container.