It's been a week since I flew back to Kansas for a college reunion, and I still haven't completely unpacked my carry-on bag. Unpacking it should take a whopping five minutes, but I've only managed to remove a handful of items. I don't know. Either I've reached a new echelon of laziness or I've just mind-tripped myself into nostalgic oblivion.
Do you drag it out, waiting to completely unpack until there's nothing. else. to. do? I unpack slowly; I sniff my sweater to see if it still smells like Kansas (alas! only dirt and fabric softener!) I realize I packed six pairs of socks for a four-day trip. After retrieving my toothbrush, I let the pound of coffee I purchased sit on the kitchen counter for a week. I forget to unearth the hairdryer and find it buried under a pile of peanuts from Southwest Airlines.....
Do you drag it out, waiting to completely unpack until there's nothing. else. to. do? I unpack slowly; I sniff my sweater to see if it still smells like Kansas (alas! only dirt and fabric softener!) I realize I packed six pairs of socks for a four-day trip. After retrieving my toothbrush, I let the pound of coffee I purchased sit on the kitchen counter for a week. I forget to unearth the hairdryer and find it buried under a pile of peanuts from Southwest Airlines.....
To me, plain peanuts are not fancy food. They're chalky and leave a aluminimy taste on the roof of my mouth. In peanut butter, they're divine. In a back of snacks on an airplane, they find the bottom of my bag. Instantly.
Before I finally break down and put away the rest of my luggage - which I perhaps whittled down to only a belt and some yarn for plane knitting- I may turn those airline peanuts into something useful. And we all know that most inherently healthy foods can be made "useful" with the addition of sugar and red dye. What? You didn't know that?
Before I finally break down and put away the rest of my luggage - which I perhaps whittled down to only a belt and some yarn for plane knitting- I may turn those airline peanuts into something useful. And we all know that most inherently healthy foods can be made "useful" with the addition of sugar and red dye. What? You didn't know that?
Cracker-Jack Peanuts
adapted from Everybody Likes Sandwiches
makes 3 cups
- 3 cups dry-roasted, salted peanuts
- 1 1/2 cups cane sugar
- 5 Tb. water
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1-2 drops red food dye
In a large saucepan, stir together peanuts, sugar, almond extract, dye and water. Heat everything over medium-high heat until everything looks sticky or sandy. The temperature of the peanut goop should reach near 220 degrees, if you've got a candy thermometer handy. Take heart and keep stirring.
In 8 - 10 minutes, you will have a dark golden pool of liquid forming below the peanuts. This is good! Once the peanuts have reached a nice golden-red color, remove them from heat and turn the peanuts out onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle the cinnamon and salt onto the peanuts, stirring everything around a little until the peanuts are in a single layer. Break the goodies into chunks once they've cooled, and store them in an air-tight container for about a week.
If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:
Quickie pumpkin seeds
Curried nut mix
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In 8 - 10 minutes, you will have a dark golden pool of liquid forming below the peanuts. This is good! Once the peanuts have reached a nice golden-red color, remove them from heat and turn the peanuts out onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle the cinnamon and salt onto the peanuts, stirring everything around a little until the peanuts are in a single layer. Break the goodies into chunks once they've cooled, and store them in an air-tight container for about a week.
If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:
Quickie pumpkin seeds
Curried nut mix
Coconut macaroons
2 comments:
I love the your take on this!
Why thank you, m'dear! I had some good inspiration. ;-)
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