Sweet Peanut Brittle Recipe

Here's a recipe for Sweet Peanut Brittle that I found on kraftfoods.com that's perfect for bringing over to family gatherings this holiday season. The best part is, the entire thing can be prepared in the microwave!

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 Tbsp. butter
2 cups PLANTERS COCKTAIL Peanuts
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
4 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Directions:
SPRAY large baking sheet with cooking spray. Microwave sugar and corn syrup in large glass microwaveable bowl on HIGH 5 min. Stir in butter and peanuts. Microwave 3 to 4 min. or until pale golden brown. Stir in baking soda and vanilla. (Mixture will foam.) Spread onto prepared baking sheet. Cool completely. Break into pieces.

MICROWAVE chocolate in 1-cup glass measuring cup on HIGH 1 to 2 min. or until chocolate is melted when stirred. Add peanut butter; stir until melted. Dip half of each candy piece in chocolate mixture; scrape bottom against edge of cup to remove excess chocolate. Place on sheet of foil or waxed paper. Refrigerate 20 min. or until chocolate is firm.

http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/sweet-peanut-brittle-95141.aspx

Feast of the Seven Fishes

As Christmas time approaches I thought I'd put up a little blog about a holiday tradition that my family had growing up -- one that has continued into adulthood as I grow my own family.

Growing up Italian-American Christmas Eve was often a bigger celebration than Christmas Day. One of my favorite things we did as a family was abstain from meat throughout the day, and have a large dinner feast consisting of fish. In the Italian-American culture this is known as the feast of the seven fishes. I've heard of different rules about the feast itself, some families (like mine) eat 7 different kinds of fish in a few different courses (a seafood chowder can use 4 or 5 types of fish on its own), others eat 7 different courses of fish.

A family favorite that graced the table as a child and will grace my own table this year is stuffed sole. Basically it's a filet of sole with a shrimp stuffing baked with butter in the oven until delicious. A new addition to the Christmas Eve spread is a clam-stuffed mushroom I created that my husband really enjoys.

I wonder what other types of fishy dishes will become my own family's favorites.