Blogging Bloopers 2010 - Just in Time

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch had just announced her intention to host
a blogging bloopers party on January 1, 2011.  That was all I needed to have
the incentive to create quite the blooper.

No, really I intended to whip out a little pistachio brittle for a family Christmas
Progressive Dinner where our house was the last stop, the dessert.  I already
had some fabulous toffee and I had purchased some shelled pistachios that
I had been meaning to get around to to make some great brittle.

Mind you, I have had this recipe many years, taught to me by a neighbor,
Barbara and it is the easiest recipe.  One year I think I whipped out 10 or 12
batches in one day.  I don't think I have made it since we remodeled our kitchen
and I am thinking that my microwave is a lot more powerful than my old one.

Being the educationally minded mother that I am,

and believing firmly in men that can cook, I had my

16 year old son in the kitchen and I am telling him how

easy this recipe is, that it only takes 1 C. sugar and 1/2

C. light corn syrup, cooked in the microwave for 9

minutes.  We placed it in and around minute 8 I heard

a loud pop!  I turned to him and said, "Was that just a

pop I heard?"  Smoke filled the room with a horribly

acrid smell as we opened the microwave to find

one of my favorite bowls cracked and smoking.

Not a lovely sight! 

Quicky my son grabbed the hot bowl and we headed out

the door so that the house wouldn't smell too badly.

Ok, maybe it was the bowl.  Let's try again.

Why would I even think this Kitchenaid bowl would last,

it got misshapen in the dishwasher.  More smoke, more

smell, and this one was leaking out of the bottom.

Whew, at least I hadn't started with the pistachios in the

mix.  The recipe calls for raw peanuts and I have found

that with nuts that are already cooked it is best to add

them about halfway through.

Not do be detered (I quickly called Barbara and then

talked to the "expert" her husband Steve.  He does it

for 3 minutes, adds nuts, then 3 minutes, then adds

butter and vanilla, then 1 minute.

Ok!  A recipe on the web started with 14 minutes -

my microwave would have been on fire by then.

Yes, we finally did get the pistachio brittle, but I have to

say it was still a little chewy, although you have to try

the pistachios, they are great in it.  I think I needed 1 1/2

minutes at the end instead of 1. (I did another batch

with 2 minutes at the end and that was too much - kind of 

burned tasting!)  That's why I like to

use a thermometer, but this really is so easy and

quick.

Pistachio Nut Brittle Recipe

1 C. sugar

1/2 C. light Karo corn syrup

1 - 1 1/4 C. nuts

Stir together in a MICROWAVE SAFE bowl!!

Heat on high for 3 minutes.  Add the nuts

  (if nuts are salted, don't add

any additional salt, but if they are not, add 1/4 tsp. salt)

and heat on high for another 3 minutes.

Stir in 1 T. butter and 1 tsp.vanilla

(I use a different spoon each time I stir.)

Put back in microwave and heat an additional 1-1 1/2

minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in 1 tsp. baking

soda.  Stir quickly as it will foam.  Pour out onto a

Silpat lined pan, or a greased pan.  Let cool completely

and break into pieces.

I have to say, my favorite thing about blogging is that

I have the right to throw out bloopers if I want and

you can't even taste these to know tht they were a little

on the chewy side!  You wouldn't know if I didn't tell you.

The next day the bowls went in the trash - after they had

cooled off. 

Hope to see and read some of your bloopers

to start off my new year.

Happy 2011.  Thanks Susan for this fun party.

Join Susan for her

Blogging Bloopers Party.

I will also be posting this with

Foodie Friday.