Oklahoma Brown Candy - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 c. sugar (for caramelizing)
4 c. sugar
2 c. whole milk
1/4 tsp. soda
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
4 c. nutmeats (pecans or walnuts)

Preparation

Place sugar for caramelizing in heavy skillet.
Place 4 cups sugar and milk in large, deep heavy kettle.
Caramelize sugar in skillet over low heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon as it melts slowly and becomes a syrup about the color light brown sugar.
When sugar begins to melt, place kettle with sugar and milk mixture over low heat.
Let this simmer as you continue stirring the melting sugar.
When syrup is light brown, pour in a very fine stream into kettle of simmering mixture, stirring all the time to blend.
Cook and stir until mixture reaches a firm ball stage (244\u00b0 to 248\u00b0).