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How do you all handle all that comes your way this season? Do you feel energized by the buzz of all that is happening around you, and do you feel caught up in the whirlwind? Excited or overwhelmed? Filled with anticipation, or kind of ready to get back to everyday life?

Peanut Brittle in a small galvanized bucket, with some pieces and peanuts next to it.

I sort of feel like I go back and forth. It’s easy to say YES to everything because there are so many fun things to do. Things like school parties, cookie exchanges, tree trimming, advent calendars, charity work, gingerbread making, shopping, wrapping…. But when I get overwhelmed, I think, “Does all of this really matter? Is is necessary? What would a SIMPLIFIED Christmas really look like?”

I can hardly even ask that question without a pang of guilt creeping in. I think it mostly stems from feeling like I need to keep up the traditions that my mom started when I was young, plus all the ones I’ve seen on Pinterest, plus all the ones my boys tell me their friends at school do. All good things, just too much!

Peanut Brittle pieces piled on parchment paper.

When I think back on all the ways my childhood Christmases were so wonderful, I realize that my mom must have been exhausted. While I do remember my parents staying up late wrapping presents, but I do not remember my mom ever looking exhausted on Christmas morning. She always got it all done, and it always felt just perfect to me.

On the note of keeping things simple, this is a peanut brittle recipe you can make in the microwave. Start to finish in 10 minutes. And the recipe is from my mom, so it’s a little nostalgic for me! It’s a pretty straight forward, but one thing that makes it a little easier is to have all your ingredients measured out and ready to go by the microwave before you get started. Makes a great teacher or neighbor gift if those are on your holiday to-do list.

So I’m trying to learn how to sift through all the “good things” and choose the ones that are the most precious to us. I’m trying to be really picky about what we choose to let into our Christmas season. This year we decided not to mail out Christmas cards. We don’t do the Elf on the Shelf. Not that those aren’t good things, they are just what we chose to leave out. We are trying to sit down as a family each night, light a candle, and read stories that point out the Real Reason for Christmas. I don’t want the all the fun but insignificant things to crowd out the Significant. I want Christmas to be more than magical for my kids. I want it to be Meaningful!

Did you make this recipe?

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #lovelylittlekitchen

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How To Make Peanut Brittle in the Microwave

★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews

Author: Julie
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 13 minutes
Yield: 24 pieces 1x
Category: Dessert
Method: Microwave
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Description

My mom’s peanut brittle recipe – you can make it in the microwave in less than 10 minutes!

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup raw peanuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

Pour sugar and corn syrup into a microwavable 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Mix together and microwave on high for 3 minutes.
Stir in peanuts and salt, and microwave for 3 more minutes.
Add butter and vanilla, and stir well. Return to the microwave for 2 more minutes.
Carefully remove the pan from the microwave, and add baking soda, stirring quickly.
Pour out onto a Silpat lined or greased baking sheet. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before breaking it into bite sized pieces.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 Piece
Calories: 89
Sugar: 14g
Sodium: 103mg
Fat: 3.2g
Saturated Fat: 0.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 2.4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 15g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 1.6g
Cholesterol: 0.4mg

Keywords: microwave peanut brittle, homemade peanut brittle, peanut brittle, candy, Christmas