Colodent (Peanut Brittle) or ColoDON'T!

I was woefully wrong when I chose to make Colodent, a Mauritian treat that is similar to our peanut brittle.  I had reviewed dessert recipes for days, looking for things that seemed both easy to make and slightly less gluttonous than the others.  And, I thought I had found it when Colodent appeared before me.  The recipe I found had only three ingredients: sugar, peanuts, and water.  Simple, right?  What could go wrong?  Well...

Perhaps I started off incorrectly, even though I followed the instructions as they were written.  I added my sugar and water to a pan and waited for it to boil.  And stirred and waited.  And waited.  And added more water.  And waited.  And it bubbled up slightly, then disappointingly simmered and hardened.  Again, I added more water.  Repeated the tedium.  Then, more water.  Finally a strong bubble - but, it was quickly burst after I added the nuts.  The nuts must have brought the temperature down because it all hardened up again.  So, I added even more water, which lead to more waiting and more stirring - but the caramelization was nowhere in sight.

So, doing what any good cook would do when all hope was lost, I scrapped the recipe and used the nuts and sugar to make a mediocre brownie.  Nothing great was gained from my experience, though I suppose nothing was really lost.  It was just another reminder that recipes are not necessarily easier because they list a small handful of ingredients.  Don't be seduced by simplicity!  Instead, go with the things that appeal to you and try them all without fear.  And, when failure happens (as it does with everyone), don't be afraid to proclaim it as loudly as your triumphs.  Chalk it up to another brilliant lesson in life.  After all, no one (and no recipe) is perfect.  The fun comes in the experience.  C'est la vie!

If you are brave enough to try my experience for yourself, here is the recipe - maybe it will work for you.  Or, if you know the science behind cooking, and can tutor me and show me where I went wrong, I would be grateful.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups peanuts
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup water

Instructions:

1. Put the sugar and water in a heavy saucepan and slowly bring to a boil over low heat. Stir with a wooden spoon until it starts to thicken.
2. Add peanuts in two half portions. Keep stirring. As the mixture starts to caramelize into a golden color, remove from heat and continue to stir.
3. Pour onto a greased oven tray or a marble cutting board. Allow mixture to cool before cutting.

(The original recipe came from this site: http://ile-maurice.tripod.com/colodent.htm.)