Mrs. Teabody and Mr. Teabody Take on Peanut Brittle
Good Morning, Sweetlings!
Today is Friday, and many of you, my gentle readers, can see the freedom the weekend affords almost at your fingertips. Mrs. Teabody hopes you will take some time just for yourself and put the "duties" of the season on a back burner.
Speaking of back burners reminds Mrs. Teabody that she needs to relate a recent episode at Chez Teabody where the happy couple engaged in a drama-filled attempt to make peanut brittle. Even one as ancient as Mrs. Teabody has not forgotten that candy making is always fraught with danger-- molten sugar, butter and corn syrup chortling along at THREE HUNDRED DEGREES is no sane person's idea of a casual cooking endeavor. Mrs. Teabody had made a PROMISE, you see, gentle reader.
Recalling her long ago days at the intermediate school, Mrs. Teabody prepared Mise en place, even pre-measuring the baking soda and water and vanilla, putting said items in those darling little glass vessels one sees the experts use. Cookie sheets were buttered and placed in the oven -- the trick to having brittle not seize. As Mrs. Teabody stirred the bubbling mixture she noted how TIRED her arm was becoming as the little thermometer measured a some trifling temperature far below TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY DEGREES.
Mrs. Teabody called to Mr. Teabody who came to her rescue for a few moments whilst she enjoyed a libation of Rooibos Vanilla Chai and refreshed her memory of the order of the finale: Add a pound of raw peanuts and stir to a temperature of THREE HUNDRED DEGREES at which point one must quickly stir in vanilla, water and baking soda and pour this cauldron filled with liquid of volcanic temperature EVENLY onto the two hot cookie sheets.
Tears rose to Mrs. Teabody's eyes, and she implored Mr. Teabody to stay the course as she became blindingly aware that she could not finish the candy on her own. By that time the nebulous "soft ball" texture had been achieved. Peanuts were added and the mad stirring began. What can Mrs. Teabody say, gentle reader, that you do not already know? The time it takes to bring the candy to the next stage is interminable. Why, Mrs. Teabody could have had a pedicure during the time it took, and let Mrs. Teabody assure you, gentle reader, that is precisely what Mrs. Teabody shall do should anyone ever mention making peanut brittle again.
Mr. and Mrs. Teabody swapped out stirring duties whilst Mr. Teabody rattled on about SCIENCE and Mrs. Teabody had small crying jags. Mr. Teabody has far greater endurance and being of a taller stature his face was much further away from the blast furnace temperature. Clear advantages, gentle reader. Eons later, the desired temperature was reached, the lovely caramel color achieved, the liquid tested to see it divided into "hard, brittle threads." Working together like the bits and bobs of a fine Swiss clock, the Teabodys, added, stirred, poured, and spread, and Voila! Two fine sheets of golden brittle were born. The Teabodys embraced in the fashion of a couple who have just conquered Mount Everest. As well they should.
Mrs. Teabody relates this anecdote because far too often Mrs. Teabody forgets the energy and effort one uses in creating a perfect HOMEMADE gift. One should not. Whether the gift is perfect ( or IMPERFECT) peanut brittle, a hand-knitted dishcloth, a jar of raspberry jam, a jar of salsa that tastes just like a summer day, do remember, gentle reader that these gifts are special because they would never be begun without LOVE, and they would not be completed and presented without the hope that the gift would be enjoyed by you, gentle reader.
Today is Friday, and many of you, my gentle readers, can see the freedom the weekend affords almost at your fingertips. Mrs. Teabody hopes you will take some time just for yourself and put the "duties" of the season on a back burner.
Speaking of back burners reminds Mrs. Teabody that she needs to relate a recent episode at Chez Teabody where the happy couple engaged in a drama-filled attempt to make peanut brittle. Even one as ancient as Mrs. Teabody has not forgotten that candy making is always fraught with danger-- molten sugar, butter and corn syrup chortling along at THREE HUNDRED DEGREES is no sane person's idea of a casual cooking endeavor. Mrs. Teabody had made a PROMISE, you see, gentle reader.
Recalling her long ago days at the intermediate school, Mrs. Teabody prepared Mise en place, even pre-measuring the baking soda and water and vanilla, putting said items in those darling little glass vessels one sees the experts use. Cookie sheets were buttered and placed in the oven -- the trick to having brittle not seize. As Mrs. Teabody stirred the bubbling mixture she noted how TIRED her arm was becoming as the little thermometer measured a some trifling temperature far below TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY DEGREES.
Mrs. Teabody called to Mr. Teabody who came to her rescue for a few moments whilst she enjoyed a libation of Rooibos Vanilla Chai and refreshed her memory of the order of the finale: Add a pound of raw peanuts and stir to a temperature of THREE HUNDRED DEGREES at which point one must quickly stir in vanilla, water and baking soda and pour this cauldron filled with liquid of volcanic temperature EVENLY onto the two hot cookie sheets.
Tears rose to Mrs. Teabody's eyes, and she implored Mr. Teabody to stay the course as she became blindingly aware that she could not finish the candy on her own. By that time the nebulous "soft ball" texture had been achieved. Peanuts were added and the mad stirring began. What can Mrs. Teabody say, gentle reader, that you do not already know? The time it takes to bring the candy to the next stage is interminable. Why, Mrs. Teabody could have had a pedicure during the time it took, and let Mrs. Teabody assure you, gentle reader, that is precisely what Mrs. Teabody shall do should anyone ever mention making peanut brittle again.
Mr. and Mrs. Teabody swapped out stirring duties whilst Mr. Teabody rattled on about SCIENCE and Mrs. Teabody had small crying jags. Mr. Teabody has far greater endurance and being of a taller stature his face was much further away from the blast furnace temperature. Clear advantages, gentle reader. Eons later, the desired temperature was reached, the lovely caramel color achieved, the liquid tested to see it divided into "hard, brittle threads." Working together like the bits and bobs of a fine Swiss clock, the Teabodys, added, stirred, poured, and spread, and Voila! Two fine sheets of golden brittle were born. The Teabodys embraced in the fashion of a couple who have just conquered Mount Everest. As well they should.
Mrs. Teabody relates this anecdote because far too often Mrs. Teabody forgets the energy and effort one uses in creating a perfect HOMEMADE gift. One should not. Whether the gift is perfect ( or IMPERFECT) peanut brittle, a hand-knitted dishcloth, a jar of raspberry jam, a jar of salsa that tastes just like a summer day, do remember, gentle reader that these gifts are special because they would never be begun without LOVE, and they would not be completed and presented without the hope that the gift would be enjoyed by you, gentle reader.
Do enjoy your day today, and open your heart to the Spirit of Christmas.
Ta for now.
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