Peanut Brittle

How I love my friendship with a Chef. Retired now, he was Chef at the White House for 4 Presidents. Beginning with JFK. As much as anything, I liked the fact that he keeps secrets from those days although I long to invade his memories.
Jon is a fabulous Chef. Learned from him that presentation is everything.

One day Jon was visiting and as usual, we were in the kitchen trying to decide what we wanted to make. Ah! Peanut Brittle.
"Jon, I have the greatest recipe for Peanut Brittle...let's make Peanut Brittle."

Looking at the recipe, I asked, "Do you think we can double this recipe?"

"Don't see why not," he replied.

Had only one problem...the recipe calls to spread the hot candy on to buttered platters to cool and pull out making thin and brittle candy. We needed large platters to pour up and work with so much candy.

"Do you think we could just use the kitchen counter? Butter it real well and pour the mixture right on the counter?" He couldn't see why not.

We eagerly prepared the counter, using a couple sticks of butter...PERFECT I thought. Space to work from both sides. Satisfied, we went about making the candy. Our mixture was soon thick bubbly and very, very hot...perfect, we thought.
Carefully I poured this mixture right onto the perpared surface...refresed our glasses of wine and retreated to the living room to wait for the candy to cool a bit.

Talk and more talk...we kinda forgot the candy, leaving it not only to cool, but to bond itself to that counter top. We were panic-stricken. Looking back am sure it bonded as it hit the counter.

Desperate attempts to lift an edge failed...the counter top was some kind of material unwilling to give up this new coat of candy. It looked as if it had permentely adhered.
"WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?"

We were in big time trouble with this...questioning eyes staring into questioning eye coming up blank...then...

Ah Ha! A hammer would break it up and that would help, we thought.

Banging the shinny hard candy began to splinter and send little bits of candy flying out in all directions...more bangs...more splinters of candy, ...all over the kitchen...but not really making a dent in the thick coat.

Not being able to think of another solution, we both were banging and banging when my husband came home...little bits of candy all over the floor and in our hair.

"WHAT IS GOING ON?????" he demanded as he saw what a mess in front of his eyes.

Jon put down his hammer and said, "Well, June, think I will be going.....bye."

Wet towels and lots of scrubbing was my chore for the next week. The only damage done was to my confidence as the counter top was ok...lucky it didn't melt. Was a good lesson. In our new house, we put in Silstone.

Have you ever done anything like this? LOL LOL
iJune

Snow day~

Today is a snowy day in Northern Virginia, USA.
The wet snow clings to the trees, outlining each branch against pure white backgound. We have about 6 inches and still falling. Made Taco Soup and a big pan of cornbread.
YUM~ PERFECT and makes a large pot to share or easy to freeze.

Taco Soup
2 # hamburger
1 large onion (chopped)
1 bell pepper (chopped)
Brown hamburger and sauté onion and bell pepper.

Add:
1 can whole kernel corn (16 oz.)
1 can diced Rotel tomatoes (28 oz.)
1 can great northern beans (15 oz.)
1 can pinto beans (16 oz.)
1 can peeled, diced tomatoes (28 oz.)
2 cups chicken broth
1 pkg. ranch salad dressing mix
1 pkg. taco seasoning
Bring to boil, simmer for about 30 minutes, enjoy!
Don't forget to make plain cornbread ...

iJune