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Southern butter mints---vegan edition

After the last post, we started to be able to see what the fuss was about.  The ones made with twice the butter were the best candy I have ever tasted.  Ever. 

So then we started experimenting.  How long do you pull it?  Longer than you think.  And then pull a minute or two after that.  Suddenly every single batch was creaming, pretty much right after we would cut them. I tried adding less than double butter and I think they taste much better (more delicate, according to one taste tester).

The latest experiment we did involved using Earth Balance instead of butter.  It cooked pretty much the same as usual, although I was distracted right at the moment I had to pull it off the stove so it cooked maybe a bit longer than usual.  Amanda and I each pulled a quarter, while Luke pulled the bigger half.  Luke's really wasn't turning very fast---perhaps because it was too hot when he took it off the marble.  Mine was turning faster than Amanda's so we traded for a while. 

Amanda and I cut ours first, and one turned right away and one later (we didn't keep track...).  Luke kept pulling, since his had started so much slower than mine.  "Why don't we pull these for a whole hour?"  he asked.  I suggested he give me half of his, but we (again) got distracted.  Suddenly he shouted "Oh no oh no!"  He put it on the counter---it had started turning.  Again it heated up and turned grainy first.  We did cut a few pieces off, but it seemed a bit of a waste.  However, we did find out why we don't pull for an hour.

The Earth Balance gives it a slightly different flavor, but the chemistry seems to be the same.  Interesting, none the less.  I love science experiments.

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