Brown Sugar

I baked Peanut Butter Cookies twice this week and both times my brown sugar was hard as a rock.  

My two favorite ways to soften brown sugar

1. place brown sugar in a microwave safe bowl or container.  Microwave sugar for 30 seconds.  Stir.  repeat until brown sugar is soft.  Do not heat the brown sugar.  It will melt.
2. Use a    terra cotta brown sugar softener.    This is a little clay disc that you soak, wipe dry and put in with the sugar when you store it.

The best way to store brown sugar is in a plastic bag.  Push all of the air out of the bag so that the actual surface are of the brown sugar that is exposed to air is absolutely minimal. 

My favorite brown sugar is Billington's    because it has a rich flavor.  It is very expensive.  A more reasonably priced natural brand is C&H Pure Cane Sugar.  You should avoid beet sugar.  It is inferior in taste and quality.