Salt is added to raw ingredients to draw out moisture. A small amount of salt can be used to enhance sweetness. My mother always put it on her melon, and others sprinkle pineapple and grapefruit with it. Salt makes sweetness more pronounced by contrast. This principle is why salt improves the flavor balance of baked goods such as cakes and cookies.

11

Tracy

From: Tracy Temple

Date: December 7, 2008 4:59:03 PM EST

To: [email protected]

Subject: Tracy’s “Super Hard” Nut Clusters

This recipe is pretty daunting.

Please proceed with extreme caution!

Peanut Clusters

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

4 ounces semisweet chocolate [I used Guittard]

4 ounces milk chocolate [Same brand]

2 cups peanuts, chopped [I’ve also used pecans, almonds, or cashews]

In a double boiler oil first, then melt chocolate.

Here’s the hard part …

Don’t let any water bubble into the pan, geez, you could really blow the whole thing then!!!

Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper by rounded teaspoons.

COOL!!!! Then place in lovely packaging.

I know, it was another tough one, but when the going gets tough, the tough go to Hawaii.

Happy Holidays to all of my favorite women.

I really miss seeing all of you!

Love and
Happiness,
xxoo TT

P.S. JEEZ. I forgot to tell you to stir in the nuts after the chocolate is melted. heeheehee

LET ME GET ’EM, Tracy’s cookies.” I walk into my office. Behind me, my friends laugh and talk. Bitter balls of sleet hit the house. When I glance out the window, frozen rain slants white in the darkness. It isn’t sticking, but it smacks the house with a mean sound. I bring back the sacks, and Taylor asks, “Where’s Tracy again?”

“Hawaii. With Silver,” I answer.

Tracy and Silver are one of those couples who’ve found the secret to true and lasting love. When I’m with them, I’m reminded of how good it is when it’s good. Theirs is not just a marriage that has lasted, but one where you feel their love and caring when you’re with them. Each of them wants to make the other happy and seamlessly accommodates or sacrifices.

They sure started off with the odds against them, though. Tracy was too soon out of a bad marriage. One of those marry in your early twenties and by mid to late twenties you realize you did it to end your dependence on your parents and prove you’re an adult. Then you parent the other the rest of the way until it’s unnecessary and you realize you’re unsuited. So Tracy, straight blond hair down to her ass, lips that always looked as though they were about to pout or grin, and a laugh that made everyone who heard it jump in, hit the Gandy Dancer Restaurant.