When a Friend in Need Needs Candy

It's been a bad week for my healthy eating resolve anyway. The Wedding of the Year was yesterday -- the bride and groom glowed. As for that toast -- I remembered my lines and didn't knock over any furniture. The mic was a little faulty and I think some of what I said was lost. Still, I got my point across-- this was a joyous occasion.

If good wishes carry with them fate, the new Mr. & Mrs. Vito are destined for a lifetime of happiness. The caterer delivered a superb dinner with three stations ... French, Mediterranean and New England cuisine. All yummy. And we danced and sang and danced some more.

It was a big friend week around here. For another of our favorite people, the surgery was reportedly a success and there's nothing like a homemade sugary treat to sweeten recovery time. Capping off all the candy and toast making, I'm back on the Flat Belly Diet! I've lost just nine pounds not the fifteen I was hoping for but I'm so far down this road there's no reason to quit now. I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile, go ahead. Make some cashew brittle.

CASHEW BRITTLE
2 cups raw sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
dash of salt
1/2 cup water
2 cups cashew halves
2 teaspoons baking soda

Using butter flavored cooking spray, grease a large baking sheet and set aside. In a medium heavy bottom, stainless saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, salt and water. Cook over medium heat-high until it reaches a boil. Continue cooking until the mixture reaches soft crack stage, 280 degrees F. Stir in nuts.

Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking for 12 to 14 minutes. Stir frequently until mixture reaches hard crack stage, 300 degrees F. Remove from heat and quickly mix in baking soda. The addition of the baking soda adds air pockets to make the candy light yet crunchy. Spread the hot mixture on the baking sheet, using a spatula to spread as thinly as reasonably possible.

When the candy is cool enough to handle but still hot, butter your hands and pull at each corner to stretch it even thinner. Don't worry about cracks as you pull. when the brittle cools you will break it into pieces anyway. Stores well in an airtight container such as a candy tin for up to two weeks. Makes about two pounds of carmelized cashew brittle.