MICROWAVE PEANUT BRITTLE

This recipe makes a big pan of peanut brittle right in your microwave; no candy thermometer and almost no stirring. The hardest part of this recipe is figuring out what wattage your microwave is (so you can adjust the cooking time). Be careful though, this candy is highly addictive and best of all, it doesn't stick to your teeth like a lot of brittle's do!

I'll give you the ingredients first, and then talk about microwaves and cooking times:
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup (like Karo)
1 cup salted peanuts
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 level teaspoons baking soda

Prepare everything you need before you start the microwave. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray (see note below), measure out the nuts, butter, vanilla and baking soda, set it all within arms reach.

Basic instructions are: In a 2 & 1/2 quart microwave safe bowl, mix the sugar and corn syrup until all of the sugar is moist. Microwave on high for xxx minutes, remove from microwave and quickly stir in the peanuts. Microwave on high for xxx minutes, remove and stir in butter and vanilla. Microwave on high for xxx minutes and remove for the last time. Stir in the baking soda. It will foam up; try and distribute the baking soda with as few strokes as possible since every stroke (after it foams up) will reduce the number of air bubbles (air bubbles = good candy). Pour the hot candy out onto a prepared cookie sheet and TILT the cookie sheet to help the hot candy to "move" (don't use a utensil here...just tilt the pan). Be careful, this candy (and the pan you tilt) are going to be hotter than blazes, so be careful. When candy is at room temperature (it's going to take a while), break into pieces.

The following directions were written for a 900 watt microwave:
Microwave on high 4 minutes, add peanuts, microwave on high for 3 & 1/2 minutes, stir in butter and vanilla microwave 1 & 1/2 minutes. Remove and add baking soda.

The following directions were written for a 1100 watt microwave"
Microwave on high for 3 minutes 45 seconds, add nuts and microwave for 2 minutes and 45 seconds, add vanilla and butter and microwave for 30 seconds. Remove and add baking soda.

The following directions are for a 1500 watt microwave. This is the only one I can vouch for, since my microwave is 1500 watts. Three minutes on high, add peanuts, microwave on high 3 more minutes, add butter and vanilla and microwave on high 1 minute, remove and stir in baking soda.

NOTE: The original recipe said to grease a cookie sheet. I've done that with other brittle recipes, and it gives the back side of your candy a greasy feel. If you pour the hot candy onto parchment paper lined cookie sheet, it will pop right off of the paper when it cools.

NOTE: It is good (but not necessary) to warm up the peanuts a little before you add them.

NOTE: Don't even TRY to wash the bowl and utensils by hand, just throw them in the dishwasher and they will come out clean.

NOTE: The first time you make this peanut brittle, keep an eye on the candy (as it cooks). You are going for a nice golden color, not a golden brown.

NOTE: Store finished candy in an air tight container (or it will get sticky).