is a recipe for peanut brittle.

I would like to mention that any kind of brittle should not be attempted when the humidity is very low or the brittle will become very sticky.

PEANUT BRITTLE 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1 tbsp. butter 1 tsp. baking soda 11 cups salted cocktail peanuts LIGHTLY grease a cookie sheet and metal spatula. Mix sugar and corn syrup in a large, heavy pot. Bring to a boil over a medium heat, stirring often. Boil 10-12 minutes, stirring often until a candy thermometer registers 300 to 310degrees F. (If you do not have a thermometer, a small glass of ice water can be used.

Drop a small amount of the syrup into the ice water and when it separates into a hard brittle thread, it has reached the hard ball stage). Remove from heat.

Add baking soda and butter. Stir rapidly until butter melts and baking soda dissolves. The mixture will foam a bit.

Add peanuts and mix well. Immediately pour onto prepared cookie sheet and press down with the greased spatula. Press to 1 inch thickness. Let stand until it is cool and hard. Break into bite-size pieces. Store in an airtight container with waxed paper between layers.

OLD FASHIONED GINGERBREAD If your mouth's watering for some good gingerbread try this one. Gingerbread is a favourite on cool evenings and goes very well with a nice steaming pot of tea, shared with a friend or neighbour.

Here's your recipe: OLD FASHIONED GINGERBREAD 4 cups flour 2 tbsp. ground ginger 2 tsp. baking soda, and 1 tsp. salt 1 cup margarine (not a spread) at room temperature 1 cup brown sugar, packed 3 large eggs 11 cups dark molasses 1 cup sour milk or non-fat plain yogurt 1 cup seedless raisins (optional) MIX flour, ginger, baking soda and salt. Beat margarine and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat for few minutes longer until mixture has slightly increased. Slowly beat in molasses and sour milk or yogurt (Mixture may look like it's breaking apart or it may look like it's curdled). Gradually beat in flour mixture until just blended. At this time you may want to fold in some raisins. Pour batter into two greased loaf pans. Bake 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees F. or until a toothpick inserted near the centre comes out clean. Cool in pans on a rack.

APPLIANCE TIME -- A Masters Ltd. salesperson show off a breadmaker at the shop. Appliances can make great presents for anyone, whether they are young adults making their own homes for the first time, or more unusual appliances for the chef or handyman who already has the basics, but would appreciate a more unusual device.