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NutWhats’ Lisa Rast: Caramelpalooza Candymakers 2013

As the chefs competing in Smeeks and Chow Bella's fourth-annual Caramelpalooza -- coming 7 p.m. Friday, April 5, at UNION -- get out the candy thermometers, we've got our pens ready to introduce you to the faces behind the caramel. Although Lisa Rast is simply nutty about nuts, she's excited...
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As the chefs competing in Smeeks and Chow Bella’s fourth-annual Caramelpalooza — coming 7 p.m. Friday, April 5, at UNION — get out the candy thermometers, we’ve got our pens ready to introduce you to the faces behind the caramel.

Although Lisa Rast is simply nutty about nuts, she’s excited to compete in Caramelpalooza again this year. She says the secret to her caramel-making stems from the simplicity of “a pan, some ingredients, and a whole lotta fun.”

We can’t wait to see what she brings to the table this year, because everytime we pass by the NutWhats stand at a farmers market, we can’t resist grabbing some Beer Britty peanut brittle. If we’re lucky, she might make some beer caramel this year.

See Also: Announcing the Caramel Makers for Smeeks & Chow Bella’s Caramelpalooza 2013! Churn’s Monica Castillo: Caramelpalooza Candymakers 2013Herb Box’s LaDawn Driscoll: Caramelpalooza Candymakers 2013 Nutwhats’ Lisa Rast: Caramelpalooza Candymakers (2012)

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My favorite nut to pair with caramel is… pecans

If I were a superhero, my name would be NutWhats , and my superpower would be to spread some twistedly addictive nutty love!

I’m gonna crush my Caramelpalooza competition this year with my… shhhh……that’s a secret. ☺

What’s so great about nuts? What’s not to love about nuts. You can roast them, blend them, bake them, caramelize them, spice them, and so much more. They can be sweet, salty, spicy, savory, or however you like them.

Related

My number one candy addiction (aside from the candy I make) is . . . Peanut Butter Twix

When I’m not crafting candy, I . . . am crafting chocolate or running my kiddos around.

If I couldn’t salt my caramel, I’d season it with . . . something spicy.

I wish my kitchen were… four times as big!

Related

When I need to focus, I put on my favorite band: U2.

Yoga or jogging? Jogging

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