Sweet And Spicy 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.

SWEET & SPICY PISTACHIO BRITTLE

Steps:

• 1. Line a jelly roll pan (10x15 or 11x17) with foil, butter or spray foil and set aside.
• 2. In a heavy 3qt saucepan add sugar, cinnamon, cayenne, nutmeg, allspice, syrups and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until sugar is disolved and mixture comes to a full boil. Add butter, continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until candy thermometer reaches 300
• 3. Then stir in nuts until well mixed. Remove from heat, stir in soda until foamy. Immediately pour mixture, while still foamy onto prepared pan, spreading to 1/8"-1/4" thickness. Cool completely. Break into pieces. Store in air tight container.

SWEET AND SPICY BRITTLE

Steps:

• 1. Read through entire recipe and have everything ready to go. Steps must go fast and in order to insure brittle will come out correct. In a large glass measuring cup, or glass bowl, mix sugar and corn syrup. Microwave for 5-7 min or until mixture has started to turn to a lite amber color. Keep a close eye on this, some microwaves cook faster than others.
• 2. While the sugar and syrup is microwaving, quickly mix together butter, and all the nuts and seeds. When sugar and syrup is ready, quickly add nut and seed mixture, microwave 2 more min.
• 3. As soon as the above comes out of the microwave stir in vanilla, salt, baking soda and chili powder, combine well and spread out on a silicone mat laid on a baking sheet with a silicone spatula (makes clean up so much easier), as thin as you would like your brittle.
• 4. When cooled break into small pieces, store in airtight container.

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.

SPICY PEANUT BRITTLE

Steps:

• Coat a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
• Also spray a metal spatula (and yes it matters, goo will stick to all others and make it impossible to work with)
• set aside cookie sheet and spatula.
• In a large bowl, mix the peanuts, hot pepper sauce and allspice
• Put sugar and corn syrup into a large glass microwavable bowl.
• Stir mixture - will be very thick but will change when heated.
• Microwave, uncovered on high for 4 minutes.
• stir again.
• add in spicy peanut mixture.
• stir until blended.
• Return to microwave and cook on high 4-5 minutes longer.
• Stir in butter.
• Microwave 45 seconds.
• Very quickly add in baking soda and vanilla and stir. It will foam and the color witl lighten.
• Immediately pour into prepared pan and spread as thin as possible with prepared spatula.
• Cool, break into pieces (put in bag and use hammer to smash is easiest).

SWEET & SMOKY BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Lightly brush with oil or coat with cooking spray.
• Cook sugar, water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a heavy medium saucepan over high heat, stirring, until sugar just dissolves. Continue to cook, without stirring, until golden, about 4 minutes.
• Cook about 1 minute more, swirling the pan, until syrup is light amber.
• Carefully stir in adobo sauce (hot syrup will spatter), and cook 30 seconds.
• Remove pan from heat.
• Add pepitas, peanuts, and cayenne, stirring to coat.
• Immediately pour onto baking sheet.
• Sprinkle with remaining salt.
• Let cool completely, and break into pieces.