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Friday, March 26, 2010

Matzoh Crack(er) Candy -- And Finding Beauty in Fertilizer!

It is Foodie Friday, my friends, and I am sharing a recipe I posted just about a year ago, right around Passover. It's a candy made with Matzoh, and it is so good that my sister-in-law refers to it as Matzoh Crack. I think the official name is Matzoh Toffee Crunch, or something equally high-falutin'.

So get your munchies on by visiting here for some fantastic recipe sharing with Gollum's Foodie Friday, at Designs by Gollum.

I'm also hopping like the Easter Bunny (we are very ecumenical at That Old House) onto the fluffy tails of two other blog parties: Fertilizer Friday at Tootsie Time, and Finding Beauty at Dipity Road. Links to all blogs are at the end of this post, or just click on the highlighted words!

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So . . . we mentioned candy?

Long time readers have seen this before, but it's too good not to share with new readers, and it is soooooo easy. I'm filching the text and pictures from last year's post, because I am not making it this year; if I did, I would eat it, and that would not be a good thing.

What you need:


* About 1/2 of a box of regular, unsalted Passover Matzoh (not "Egg Matzoh." Feh.)
* 1 cup butter -- 2 sticks (Hey, it's candy. Not health food.)
* 1 cup packed brown sugar -- light but dark works in a pinch
* 1 to 2 cups real chocolate chips (depending on how thick you want the chocolate)

* (Optional: sprinkle the top with chopped nuts. Or you can use more creative toppings, like chopped candied ginger, drizzles of melted white chocolate, melted butterscotch or peanut butter chips, ice cream "sprinkles," crushed toffee chips, whatever you like. Not anchovy-stuffed olives.)

What you do:
1) Line a big cookie sheet (jelly roll pan) with aluminum foil, and spray the foil with cooking spray.
2) Lay out the matzoh on top of the foil, single layer. Break as needed to fit, like a jigsaw puzzle.

3) Bring brown sugar and butter to a boil in a heavy saucepan.

Let it boil till it doesn't look "oily" on top, about 3 minutes.


4) Pour the butter/sugar mixture over the pan of matzoh, spread it out.

Pop the pan into a preheated 350-degree oven, for about 10 - 12 minutes, or until it bubbles on top. This may take as long as 15 minutes -- the caramel will bubble and get slightly darker, but watch so it doesn't burn, which can happen quickly.

5) Remove pan from oven and spread the chocolate chips on the hot matzoh.


Allow the chips to get glossy (melted), and then spread them over the matzoh with a knife or spatula.


6) Optional ... sprinkle finely chopped nuts or other topping, into still-soft chocolate. I melted some butterscotch chips -- I didn't have anything more exotic in the pantry -- and drizzled it with a fork over the chocolate. Not very pretty, but it will look better broken up.


And ... now let the candy cool down; you can pop it into the fridge if you are impatient. When it's COOL, you break it into smaller pieces. Taste. Enjoy. It is good, no?


Now you know why the Israelites made sure they grabbed
that matzoh they were baking before they high-tailed it out of Egypt.


This candy will keep for at least a week in an airtight container, but good luck with that. It might be easier to double the recipe, and just make two pans at once.

And a final note -- most recipes you find for this specify unsalted butter. I've used both, and I actually like the touch of salt from salted butter, as it's a welcome foil to the intense sweetness of the caramel and chocolate.


When it's not Passover,you can make this with unsalted Saltine crackers (haha...how funny is that? "Unsalted Saltines."). Saltine candy is OK ... but made with matzoh the candy has a flakier, lighter base, and I think is better. Plus, it has wackier shapes when broken up -- no scoring on matzoh.

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And as for finding beauty on this gray Friday, my husband went out with his
brand-spanking-new digital SLR and took some shots of spring . . . .




And my favorite shot -- this tiny daffodil. It can't be bigger than a quarter.
How adorable is that?

Now, click on the logos below, and have some fun.
Howard and I are off to bring a pizza lunch to my Dad in rehab, where he's slowly regaining his balance and able to walk once again. Have a lovely Friday! -- Cass


20 comments:

  1. That Matzoh candy looks devine :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  2. You are an EVIL woman...posting such a recipe during Lent!! Don't you know how many of us gave up chocolate???? LOL I'm going to try it anyway.

    You crack me up with your writing...very clever wit!

    Hugs,
    Rett

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  3. Matzoh Crack looks totally made for me and mine! We do something kind similar here in the South (well, some people do) with the Saltines, but I can see how the Matzoh would be a better base. I think I will give it a try very soon.

    Scribbler

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  4. Looks really good--may be an addition to our Easter table along with the pie I'm making.

    Howard did a great job with the pictures--happy signs of Spring!

    Have fun with your Dad--glad he is progressing!

    Have a great weekend!

    Melinda

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  5. OMG Cass! I am sending this straight to my daughter-in-law who is hosting Passover this year. She'll think I'm brilliant!! LOL I WILL give you credit and I'm labelling it matzoh crack!
    xoxo Pattie

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  6. well...that candy is right up my alley...and the signs of spring make my heart sing!!! thanks for adding 10 pounds to my A$$ just from the photos and for linking in today! have a wonderful weekend!

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  7. Ask my how much I love Matzoh crackers with a nice thin coating of butter :-)

    Great recipe!

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  8. I have a friend who sends us a box of Matzoh from Brooklyn every year as they bake it fresh. It is the best ever. I posted about it last year but I never thought to make the saltine candy using Matzoh crackers. My husband would love this not to mention I would probably eat the entire thing myself:)
    Joyce

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  9. Yummy, yummy everywhere ... in the kitchen & in the yard.

    Happy Easter!
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

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  10. One taste of this scrumptious candy and I'd be carrying on like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally. It looks delicious!!

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  11. This looks delicious, Cass. I'm definitely trying this. Nothing is too sweet for me! ;-)

    Howard took some great outdoor pictures. I hope to have some blooming bulbs soon. I am getting inpatient!

    Glad to hear your father is progressing. That's mighty good news!

    Have a happy weekend!

    xoxo
    Jane

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  12. i have a sweet tooth also, can i have just a small sample please?

    oh yes your spring garden is also lovely

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  13. The candy looks so good! Thanks for sharing the recipe. Love the signs of Spring. I saw some of tiny daffodils in the neighborhood several days ago and took some pictures, but have not taken the time to edit and post. Thanks for sharing your.
    Enjoy your weekend.

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  14. So I should be ecumenical and make Matzoh Candy for Easter? :)
    It looks delicious!
    Your flowers are further along than ours, but then you are a southern girl...LOL
    Glad Dad is doing better!

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  15. Hope you had a wonderful pizza party with your dad. I am going to try the candy. It looks very tasty. And the pizza are great. Very springie.:)

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  16. Whoa there - I'm on a mission to slim down and this might just put me over the edge!
    Maybe I'll make some for the others in the house (snicker)

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  17. This is one of my favorite sweet treats! I've used saltines but the matzoh sounds wonderful.

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  18. ok then, she says all the while getting her Matzoh crackers out of the panty, I am sure to make this one! Thanks Cass!

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  19. Mom, thanks for posting the recipe -- I made the matzoh candy and it is delicious :) I only had egg matzoh and I put slivered almonds on top. turned out great!

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