Grandma’s famous peanut clusters

http://www.lawrence.com/users/photos/2013/feb/03/248778/

Honestly, folks, this is going to be a pretty short post this week. I’m sorry about that, but when I tell you the reason why I think you’ll understand.

My grandmother passed away this week. It feels strange typing this, not only because it’s still such a foreign idea in my mind, but also because I didn’t think I’d be telling anybody in this fashion.

I’m not telling you this for your sympathy, though it’s appreciated. Honestly, the only reason I’m sharing this at all is because my grandmother was a fabulous cook and taught me so much of what I know about food. She left a giant, flour-coated impression on me and colors my food writing whether she knew it or not.

I spent a huge chunk of my childhood in her kitchen, watching her work her magic. She made the best desserts known to man, and I’ve told many, many, many people that if she’d ever opened a bakery it would’ve become a sweets-lover’s destination, a national chain, or both. Chocolate pie, strawberry shortcake, peanut brittle, chip chocolate cookies (NOT chocolate chip, mind you), muffins … the woman could do it all. And it was all so very good.

So, in her memory this week — we’re working very hard to celebrate her life and how fantastic she was, rather than dwell on the sadness we all feel — I thought I’d share my favorite recipe of hers: peanut clusters.

They’re simple — there are only three ingredients — but they’re out of this world.

I’ve made them many, many times and they’ve been loved by people all over the country — I’ve made them in Kansas, Pennsylvania and Florida, and my mother has whipped up a batch or 20 in Alabama.

Honestly, I’ve probably known the recipe by heart since I was 10 or so, but when I got married, my mother’s best friend asked for everyone in attendance to provide a recipe, hand-written on a recipe card. My grandmother wrote out the recipe in her beautiful handwriting and, now almost 10 years later, I still have it, as clean as the day she wrote it out.

http://www.lawrence.com/users/photos/2013/feb/03/248779/

So, in her memory, I’m going to share it with all of you. Honestly, it’s not as healthy as most of the recipes I share in this space, but it’s fantastic, and I hope you all enjoy it. The day she died, my husband insisted we make some as a little tribute. I even had one even though they’re not vegan (or “funny” as my grandma would’ve said), and I’m glad I did.

Grandma Jeanne’s Famous Peanut Clusters

1 (6-ounce) package chocolate morsels

1 (12-ounce) package butterscotch morsels

1 (12-ounce) package salted Spanish peanuts

Combine chocolate and butterscotch morsels in a double broilers (or microwave) until melted, being careful not to burn them, and stirring often.

Stir in the peanuts. Drop by the teaspoon onto waxed paper. Let set until firm either in the freezer or fridge. Store in an air-tight container in the freezer.