Mom's Brittle

My parents have pecan trees on their land.  Each year we pick up pecans.  Mom purchased a pecan tree shaker a few years ago.  It is kind of like Easter egg hunting (even though there are tons of pecans everywhere) - the excitement of finding pecans and putting them in the bucket - FUN!!!!!  My mom makes the best brittle - she not only uses pecans, but dry roasted peanuts or cashews.  Over Thanksgiving mom demonstrated how to make this delicious candy.  I can't wait to try and make it by myself for the holidays.  More pictures and video to come on the steps to making brittle

2 cups sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1/2 tsp salt

2-3 cups of raw or roasted peanuts or other coarsely chopped nuts - 1 lb of nuts

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

Combine sugar, corn syrup, water, butter and salt.  Cook until sugar dissolves and comes to a boil.  Cook and stir occasionly to 254  (soft cracked stage) add nuts. Continue cooking, stirring often to 310 (unless it starts to get dark) or until syrup is clear golden color, remove from heat.  Stir in soda and vanilla immediately, poor on silicon sheet or onto 2 buttered pans.  If desired use two forks to lift candy and stretch it thin.  Cool.  Break into pieces.  Makes about 2 1/4 lbs.  Mom uses a sheet of silicon to spread brittle onto.  She places towels under silicon sheets.  Uses a high temperature rubber spatula to spread mixture thin.