Buttermilk Candy - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 c. granulated sugar
1 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp. soda
1 1/2 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. pecans or English walnuts

Preparation

Combine sugars, soda and buttermilk in heavy 3-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches soft ball stage (234\u00b0); use candy thermometer for accuracy. (I put margarine around top rim of saucepan to keep mixture from boiling over because it's pretty foamy at first before it begins to boil down.)
Add butter and vanilla.
Beat with electric mixer until candy begins to thicken and loses its gloss.
Stir in nuts. Spread mixture in well buttered 9 x 9-inch square pan. Cool and cut into 1 1/2-inch squares.
Makes 3 dozen.