I came to realize today that my life must have been a lot less busy two years ago before I decided to do the Twelve Days of Treats.

It seemed like nothing then. I would make a couple treats a night, take them to work and do it all over again the next night. Wham, bam, thank you ma’am.

But I must have a lot more going on now. Because this is the second year in a row I’ve attempted the Twelve Days of Treats and failed. Either I have more going on, or I’ve lost my edge.

Whatever the reason, I’m pretty sure I only made it to Nine Days of Treats this year.

I know it is no excuse, but I was busy a lot of the time wrapping about forty gifts that look like this…

Thankfully I didn’t poop out before making this awesome brittle.

You will need…

1 ½ cup lightly salted, roasted peanuts

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ tablespoon vegetable oil

3 cups sugar

1 ½ cups water

½ tablespoons soften butter for the spatula

Start by combining the cayenne pepper, cinnamon and the peanuts in a small bowl.

Then, lightly oil a medium sized saucepan and add in the water and sugar.

Cook over high heating, bring the mixture to a boil. Stir often.

When it has begun to boil, cover and cook for three minutes.

Remove the cover and cook over medium high heat until the sugar water is a medium amber color. You want it to be about 300 degrees.

Then, add in the peanut mixture and remove from the heat.

Once completely combined, pour onto a silicone mat lined baking sheet or a buttered parchment lined baking sheet.

Use the buttered spatula to spread the mixture out into a thin layer.

Allow to harden completely.

Break apart and serve.

Love and Beer Floats

Angela  

 Spiced Peanut Brittle

1 ½ cup lightly salted, roasted peanuts

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ tablespoon vegetable oil

3 cups sugar

1 ½ cups water

½ tablespoons soften butter for the spatula

Start by combining the cayenne pepper, cinnamon and the peanuts in a small bowl.

Then, lightly oil a medium sized saucepan and add in the water and sugar.

Cook over high heating, bring the mixture to a boil. Stir often.

When it has begun to boil, cover and cook for three minutes.

Remove the cover and cook over medium high heat until the sugar water is a medium amber color. You want it to be about 300 degrees.

Then, add in the peanut mixture and remove from the heat.

Once completely combined, pour onto a silicone mat lined baking sheet or a buttered parchment lined baking sheet.

Use the buttered spatula to spread the mixture out into a thin layer.

Allow to harden completely.

Break apart and serve.

1 ½ cup lightly salted, roasted peanuts

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ tablespoon vegetable oil

3 cups sugar

1 ½ cups water

½ tablespoons soften butter for the spatula

Start by combining the cayenne pepper, cinnamon and the peanuts in a small bowl.

Then, lightly oil a medium sized saucepan and add in the water and sugar.

Cook over high heating, bring the mixture to a boil. Stir often.

When it has begun to boil, cover and cook for three minutes.

Remove the cover and cook over medium high heat until the sugar water is a medium amber color. You want it to be about 300 degrees.

Then, add in the peanut mixture and remove from the heat.

Once completely combined, pour onto a silicone mat lined baking sheet or a buttered parchment lined baking sheet.

Use the buttered spatula to spread the mixture out into a thin layer. Allow to harden completely.

Break apart and serve. 

As I type this post, I am sitting at table in my house with my brothers and dad playing monopoly.

Yup. Monopoly. Old school style.

And it is awesome.

Sometimes, simple and old school is just perfect.

Which is why I have to share this frosting.

Simple, old school and perfect.

You will need… 

1 cup butter (2 sticks), at room temperature.

2/3 cup cocoa powder

3 tablespoons whole milk

1 tablespoon vanilla

3 to 4 cups powdered sugar

Start by combing the butter and cocoa powder in a bowl and mix it together on high speed.

Then, with the mixer on a medium speed mix in the milk and vanilla.

With the mixer on slow, add in the sugar until it is as sweet as you like it.

Use frosting as desired. Or just eat it like that.

Love and Beer Floats

Angela  

Classic Chocolate Frosting

1 cup butter (2 sticks), at room temperature.

2/3 cup cocoa powder

3 tablespoons whole milk

1 tablespoon vanilla

3 to 4 cups powdered sugar

Start by combing the butter and cocoa powder in a bowl and mix it together on high speed.

Then, with the mixer on a medium speed mix in the milk and vanilla.

With the mixer on slow, add in the sugar until it is as sweet as you like it.

Use frosting as desired. Or just eat it like that.