Spiced Walnut Brittle Food

NUT AND SEED BRITTLE

Steps:

• Toast the seeds and almonds in a 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the pan once during the process.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Heat the sugar, corn syrup, butter and water in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir gently with a wooden spoon until the sugar has melted. Stop stirring and allow the sugar to cook until it reaches 300 degrees F on a candy thermometer -- swirl the pan occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly, about 10 minutes.
• Carefully, but moving quickly, stir in the toasted seeds and nuts until everything is coated. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet, trying to disperse it as evenly as possible and using the back of a spoon as needed. Sprinkle over the sea salt and allow to cool completely, 1 1/2 hours.
• Break the brittle into shards of desired size and store in an airtight container or pack into clear bags and tie with ribbon.

GRANDMA MYRNA'S HONEY-WALNUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Grease a large baking sheet with butter.
• Mix sugar and honey together in a large microwave-safe glass bowl; mixture will be very thick. Place in the microwave and cook on high for 1 minute. Stir, and cook 1 minute more. Stir mixture again, and cook until mixture boils and sugar is dissolved, an additional 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
• Stir walnuts into the bowl with the sugar mixture. Heat in the microwave another 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in butter, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Microwave until mixture is caramel in color, an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
• Carefully remove bowl from microwave, and quickly stir in baking soda until incorporated. Immediately pour mixture onto the buttered cookie sheet. Allow to cool until brittle is set, about 15 minutes. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

MICROWAVE NUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Spray cookie sheet and metal spatula with the cooking spray.
• In a 2-quart microwavable glass measuring cup or bowl stir sugar, corn syrup and salt with a wooden spoon until mixed.
• Microwave on High (100%) 7 to 8 minutes or until syrup is pale yellow.
• (CANDY SYRUP IS VERY HOT. HANDLE CAREFULLY; DO NOT TOUCH HOT MIXTURE.) Stir in nuts.
• Microwave 1 to 2 minutes or until nuts are lightly browned.
• Immediately stir in margarine, vanilla and baking soda until foamy.
• Quickly pour onto prepared cookie sheet; spread evenly with spatula.
• Cool; break into pieces.
• Store in tightly covered container.

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.

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.

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.