English Toffee

I love the idea of making homemade candy but was always a little intimidated by the process. Well no more! This is an easy candy to get your feet wet, so to speak. Do invest in an electronic thermometer. It will save you a lot of headaches. You can pick one up for about $20 at your local Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

Makes about 40 pieces

14 tablespoons butter(1 stick and 6 tablespoons)
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 oz of semi sweet chocolate chips, melted

Put butter, sugar and water into a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium/high heat,stirring constantly until all ingredients are combined. Remove spoon from the pot and continue to boil without stirring until the sugar mixture reaches 300-310 degrees. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and nuts. Pour immediately onto a rimmed cookie sheet that you have liberally sprayed with cooking spray or lined with a silpat. As it cools, melt the chocolate and pour it over the toffee. Spread out evenly with a spatula. Let cool completely and break into pieces. Store in an air-tight container.