Aunt Barb's Peanut Brittle

The holidays are almost over, but it's not too late to whip up a batch of my aunt's favorite Christmas treat. Because it's cooked in the microwave, you can make it in 10 minutes flat—the hardest part is waiting until it's cool enough to eat!

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 cup unsalted peanuts
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda

Butter a cookie sheet and set aside. In a 1.5-quart casserole, combine sugar and corn syrup; mix well. Microwave on high 4 minutes. Add peanuts; mix well. Microwave 3 minutes. Add butter and vanilla; mix well. Microwave 2 minutes. Add baking soda; mix well and quickly pour onto cookie sheet to cool. Break into pieces and enjoy!

Julie's Pumpkin Dessert

I got this recipe from a coworker at my first "real" job. Ten years later, it is still a favorite at our house and among my friends!

3 beaten eggs
1 large can pumpkin puree
1 cup sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon salt
1 box yellow cake mix
1-1/2 sticks butter, cut into pats

Preheat oven to 350. Mix eggs, pumpkin, sugar, milk, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Top with dry cake mix and cover with pats of butter. Bake 50 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.