Aunt Bills Brown Candy Recipes

Steps:

• Butter 8x8x2-inch metal baking pan. Combine 2 cups sugar and half and half in heavy large saucepan. Stir occasionally over low heat until sugar dissolves. Set aside.
• Bring remaining 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; continue boiling without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, brushing sides of pan with wet brush and swirling pan, about 8 minutes.
• Immediately pour caramel syrup into half and half mixture in large saucepan (mixture will bubble). Stir constantly over medium-low heat until caramel dissolves. Attach candy thermometer to side of pan. Increase heat to medium. Continue cooking and stirring until mixture registers 244°F, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat and immediately stir in baking soda (mixture will foam slightly). Add butter and stir to melt. Let stand without stirring until mixture cools to 160°F, about 20 minutes. Mix in vanilla.
• Using large wooden spoon, stir constantly until candy begins to thicken and loses its gloss, 4 to 5 minutes. Mix in nuts (candy will be very stiff). Scrape candy into prepared pan. Using wet fingertips, press candy firmly into pan. Cool completely, then cut into 30 squares.

Steps:

• 1. Put 1 pint of sugar into heavy, cast iron skillet, place over low heat and stir with "wooden spoon" until sugar is melted and light to medium brown in color. Keep stirring and do not hurry melting process.
• 2. When you have sugar starting to melt, put the other 2 pints of sugar and 1 pint of cream in deep kettle, set over low heat and start cooking slowly, while sugar in skillet is melting. Bring cream and sugar mixture to low-medium sustained boil.
• 3. When sugar in skillet is melted, pour in thin stream "about size of knitting needle" into kettle with cream and sugar mixture, stirring constantly. Cook slowly, stirring often till a "firm," but not "hard" ball forms when dropped in water.
• 4. After this test is reached, set off heat, immediately add soda and stir till mixture foams. Add butter, stir till butter melts. Allow to set 10 minutes; then begin to beat with wooden spoon.(wooden spoon only).Keep beating till mixture starts to make a "snapping and popping sound" and starts to thicken.Dont wait too long to add pecans and vanilla, this can set up in a few seconds. Pour into buttered pans and cool.
• 5. DO NOT BEAT WITH ELECTRIC MIXER OR METAL SPOON!!!!! ! STIR WITH WOODEN SPOON ONLY!!!! This candy keeps very well in foil lined shoe or boot boxes with lids. Dont laugh, best way I found to keep the candy. Recipe written just as it was given to me 50 years ago. Hopefully it will become one of your favorites.