Hey Everyone! It's Kris from Tag Along Teddies again! So ... you can probably already guess the "BAD NEWS" part of the title! Yep ... poor Kerryanne says she has a couple of bald spots now, as she is tearing her hair out in frustration at the loss of internet service AGAIN!!! She is currently taking deep breaths and trying to stay calm, but asked if I could let all her blogging buddies know why they haven't heard from her for a couple of days. She will be back with more Christmassy ideas as soon as her internet provider gets its act together. Thank you all for being so lovely and understanding. She has been overwhelmed with how many blogging buddies have embraced her "Simply Christmas" concept and is bursting at the seams to share more Christmas fun ... so STAY TUNED! :0)
So ... on to the "GOOD NEWS" part of the title. Since you've all been such SWEETIES about understanding Kerryanne's internet struggles, I thought I would share with you a quick little tutorial for some CHRISTMAS SWEETIES! :0) One of my favourite Christmas recipes (come to think of it ... why do I leave it until Christmas to make this when it's so YUMMY?!?!?) is a REALLY simple one ... SUGAR COATED PEANUTS. These tasty little morsels are not only a great nibbly to have on the Christmas table, they make a fabulous quick, inexpensive Christmas or hostess gift. So ... do you have your pencil and paper ready?? Let's COOK!! :0)
SUGAR COATED PEANUTS
Ingredients: 500g raw peanuts (with the red skin still on); two cups of sugar; two cups of water; 1/2 teaspoon of red food colouring
Step 1. Place water and sugar into a large frying pan.
Step 2. Stir sugar/water mix over a low heat until sugar dissolves completely.
Step 3. Add red food colouring and stir until combined.
Step 4. Add peanuts to the mix and stir until they are completely coated.
Step 5. Bring to the boil and boil for about 12 minutes, uncovered
Stir a few times while mixture is boiling so all peanuts cook evenly.
Step 6. At around the 12 minute mark, to check whether the peanuts are ready, dribble some of the toffee mix into a saucer of cold water. If it cracks and goes brittle, it's ready to have the heat turned off. The mix looks a little like bubbling lava at this point.
Step 7. Turn the heat off and stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar crystallises and goes to a powdery consistency as it sticks to the peanuts.
Step 8. Turn coated peanuts out onto a tray lined with baking paper to cool
Once these tasty, sugary morsels are cool, you can either tip them into a nice jar and tie a ribbon round the lid to give someone as a gift, or, my personal favourite ...
GOBBLE THEM UP YOURSELF!! :0)
So there you go ... a Christmas favourite that doesn't REALLY have to be left until Christmas to enjoy ... perhaps you can whip up a batch for yourself to nibble while you add to your Christmas lists, though I don't advise munching on them while you cover your cute notebooks ... sticky fingerprints! Tee! Hee! Hee! I hope you enjoy this quick and tasty sweet treat as much as my family does.
Kerryanne will be back with her regularly scheduled Christmas fun as soon as possible and for the sake of her peace of mind ... and the state of her poor scalp!! ... I hope I won't popping in to Shabby Art Boutique to chat to you again til I'm ready to share my Christmas craft .... Ooooohhh!! How EXCITING! :0) So, til next time ...
BEAR HUGS!
CHEERS!
KRIS
