It's Not Christmas Without...

Snow?
No...
Peanut Brittle

My mom makes the best peanut brittle. Growing up we had a batch nearly every year. As she put together the seven-ingredient recipe, it was the moment when the peanuts actually start roasting in the sugary syrup, that the spirit of the season sank into my soul.

When I started my own family, I asked my mom to teach me her recipe and we spent several years making countless batches to share with family and friends. Since we moved to Palm Beach this June, I'll have to make the batches on my own. I made 8 this year and for the most part, it was the same here as it was living at 5,280 feet. As a little Christmas gift to you, here is the recipe. Please enjoy the visual even if you can't smell it. Merry Christmas!!

In a large pan, heat on medium high heat the following:
1 Cup Light Karo Syrup
1 Cup Water
2 Cups Sugar

Heat, stirring occasionally, until the syrup spins a thread. While it is cooking, take a moment to stir together a teaspoon of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Set aside.

Do not rush this step, if you add the peanuts too early your "brittle"--won't be. {"Peanut Soggy" is not very good.} When it's ready, stir in 1-1/2 Cups raw peanuts.

 

Cook, enjoying the emanating fragrance. The candy will slowly turn to a light amber color.

At this point, work quickly, add 1 Tablespoon of butter and stir until melted. Remove from heat and add the vanilla/soda mixture. {I re-mix the concoction quickly before adding or the soda settles on the bottom and stays.}

Pour out onto a large cookie sheet that has been thickly buttered.

Allow to cool and harden. Break apart and enjoy!

 

No matter where you spend your holiday--on an island, on a mountain or in a field of waving wheat, that you will enjoy the traditions that help you recall all the season means to you.

And for those of you who live hear, I hope to see you at Bethesda tomorrow for Christmas Eve Service.

Accumulation, Part II: Tropics Defined

Now that I live in Palm Beach, I've discovered what accumulation means here {at least what I have noticed}: how deep the piles of overgrown greens, palms and other natural products are.

It astonished me after five months, seeing bushes bloom numerous times. Back in Colorado, many bushes bring out their splendor in the spring or summer but only once.

Blooming tree in the front of the house with a hungry visitor

Early on in my time here, I began to notice piles of green debris in neighborhoods. These piles, comprised of clipped hedge leaves, fallen palm fronds, discarded limbs and dried bits of flora, piled up at the end of driveways all over the island.

Around our block, these piles magically disappeared on Thursday afternoons.
I mean, I know it's a magical place here but that is going a bit far. On the other hand, I wouldn't put it past the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County to make middle-of-the-night round ups.

After weeks of wondering, I finally saw the claw along with his truck and gentlemen who made the magic happen.

Apparently this crew is out on the Island five days a week to keep the accumulation cleared away...all year.

Smiling! I think he couldn't imagine why I was taking these pictures.

What I want to know? Where does it all go when the truck is full? Feel free to comment if you know.

Thanks and see you next time, Eli

Accumulation, Part I: Mountain Defined

Growing up in Colorado, accumulation meant one thing: how deep the snow is! Over many years I've experienced the gamut, from a dusting to the St. Patrick's day Blizzard of 2003. HB was small enough that the mounds of fallen flakes would have covered her head. Here we are sitting in it {pink cheeks and noses included}.

March Blizzard of 2003

The city was shut down for several days. It was dreamy.
I met people walking down normally busy streets that were eerily silent, pristine white and void of traffic. I saw gigantic pine trees topple with the weight of dense snow and frozen, injured roots. We cooked chili and warm cornbread and basically stayed inside for three days. This trash can shows what 2 feet of the white stuff looks like.

Every several years, the skies open up and the snowflakes, quiet, beautiful and harmless on their own decide to gang up for a serious party and BAM! It happens again: furious flakes and flurries.

December 2006

So, how do you get rid of all this mess/beauty?  

Snow plows by the Colorado Department of Transportation, these bad boys can kick some serious drifts!

{source}

On smaller streets and some long driveways, the following boy toy removal system can be found.

{Source}

Then there's the two wheel version. Don't be deceived by its size. These can pack some serious power.

{source}

And finally, the grocery store special, break your back, snow shovel.

{source}

 So, if it comes down, is cold, sticks and accumulates better get some good tools to make a path through it.

Next time, I'll be sharing "Accumulation, Tropics Defined"
Until then, Eli

Build a Bridge and...

December 5, 2011, 10:30am, begins the reconstruction of the Flagler Memorial Bridge, affectionately called as the North Bridge.

It is one of three bridge that link Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, over the Intercoastal Water Way.

From December 5 through 16, the bridge will have one lane closed from 10:30am to 3:30pm. You'll want to plan extra time to cross and remember to factor in extra time for draw bridge openings which can happen any hour, at quarter past and quarter til.

I thought I'd share some photos of the North Bridge's current beauty. What will happen to these lovely accessories once the new bridge is built?

One interesting bit is that the old bridge, after being completely removed, will be recycled as "a structure within an existing artificial reef site in the ocean just to the southeast of Lake Worth Inlet." (source)

So enjoy; tomorrow they may be gone...

 

Can you see a small, yellow "heart"?

 Thanks for joining me today. Until next time, Eli