I once burned my hand big time making candy...since then I've not done much with anything that has the words "soft ball" or "hard ball", or anythng with a number and a degree sign (LOL)..

However, my peanut brittle recipe is amazing...it's with microwave and then you put in baking soda at the end...and I don't know why, but the baking soda froths the whole thing up and it become peanut brittle...It has changed my life!