We're starting the sweet section of cooking classes. From here on out, we're moving to baking and desserts and candies. And I've rightfully earned my name as queen of sweets. Obviously, I'm all over baking and cupcakes and muffins (though breads still elude me...). Turns out candy is no different.

Crystalizations class was awesome. This was my first try at hot sugar and boy did it go well. My stress levels skyrocketed during class but it was honestly 100% worth it in the end.

I got to make peanut brittle. And it was nerve racking. I cooked 1.5 cups of sugar, 1/2 cup of white corn syrup, and 1 cup of water until it boiled. I got the temp up to 250 degrees to get the sugar to the hard ball stage, then I added a tablespoon of margarine and 1.5 cups of peanuts and stirred until the sugar was brown and caramelized.

This was when the scary part came. I took it off the heat, quickly stirred in 1 tsp of vanilla and 1.5tsp of baking powder and kept stirring, FAST. I kept going for a little bit until every thing was well mixed, then I poured it out on to a greased cooking sheet and waited. And waited. And waited some more. After quite some time, it was finally cool enough, and my professor took the end of a wooden spoon and just went crazy on this peanut brittle. It was perfect. The peanut brittle was awesome too.

I'm super proud of myself. It was so good my professor stole about half of it while I was cleaning the classroom. I should've paid better attention to it!