What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Enjoyable Eats: Traditional English Toffee! So often we have those cherished childhood memories of homemade candy and cookies that accompanied holiday celebrations. They stick with us for life. I can remember being in eighth grade and determined to replicate a batch of my mother’s English Toffee. I waited for her to go into town and then pulled out her secret recipe. You know, the ones scratched on a 3.5”x5” card. More often than not, they showed a list of ingredients with instructions that simply said, “Bake at 350° for 30 minutes”. Let’s face it, that’s pretty vague compared to what we explain nowadays. As you can imagine, I melted the butter along with the brown sugar and stirred. And stirred. And stirred. So how come it wasn’t turning into this crisp crunchy texture of rich golden butter that fueled my addiction? What could I possibly be doing wrong? There was nothing written on the card to correct this runny, gooey mess. Alas, I scraped it all into the trash, washed the pan, and plopped myself at the kitchen table with my Algebra book. She walked in, smiled, and never said a word.
TRADITIONAL ENGLISH TOFFEE
Ingredients:
1 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
Butter a baking sheet. Spread pecans in a single layer in the center. Heat butter and brown sugar to boiling in a heavy saucepan, stirring constantly. Boil over Medium heat, stirring constantly, for 7 minutes. Immediately spread mixture over pecans on baking sheet. Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot mixture. Place a cookie sheet over pan until chocolate chips are melted. Spread melted chocolate over candy. Refrigerate until firm. Break toffee into pieces.
Looks lovely, Gail, but given a choice between toffee and red onion, it would be the onion for me.
Joanna
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No worries. That’s the beauty of freedom to choose. 🍃🧅
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Freedom and democracy! And onions and garlic!
Joanna
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It’s funny you say that, Joanna. One day I walked into Williams Sonoma to replace some things damaged in the move. It smelled absolutely wonderful in there. I asked the sales associate what they were cooking today. Her answer was, “Nothing. We simply sauté onions and garlic to make the store smell delicious.” 🧅🍃🧄
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That does look very tasty!! 🙂
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I like to let it melt in my mouth. 😋🍃💜
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I’m in the onion camp too, but these look like lots of fun to make for others, especially at the holidays.
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Thank goodness we’re not there yet. 🤣
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Oh man that looks good. i LOVE toffee. It’s one of my favorites. 🙂
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Mine, too. 😍🍃
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I will definitely have to make some before too long. 🙂
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I’ll take a barrel full please 😋
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Now you’re talking. 👏
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☺️☺️☺️
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Oh yum, perfect for the holidays.
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If you can wait. Better try a “practice batch” now. Yeah, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 😜
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It is probably always toffee season… hehe.
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Do you think that’s why some stores sell Christmas items all year long? I actually came across a store aisle today that had Christmas ornaments all on display for purchase. 🎄
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Yes, there are those stores in the US. I think, I even saw won in Italy last May. But that a store already put them in an aisle, that’s a bit weird… lol. I am glad we are still in the midst of summer… haha.
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When I moved to Florida, I donated all but one box of Christmas decorations. Storage is precious and very limited.
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New home, new beginning, new Christmas decoration. I think that sounds good anyway.
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Absolutely. I have only been using the Nativity as my “decoration” for the past ten years. 🌟✨💫
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But that is something special and holds some history. I have mine for the last 24 years. It was a Christmas gift from my husband when we lived in the US… History.
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This recipes seems to simple and looks delicious! 😍
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It’s pretty basic, that’s for sure. 💜🍃
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Looks delicious!!
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Thaaanks. 😍🍃
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Certainly WORTH repeating every year, but now what will you do in December 2022!? 😂
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Hmmm. I can honestly say, “I don’t know.” 🤔
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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It’s the Candyman! 🍁🍂🌾
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Yummy, and this will be the first time i will eat Traditional English Toffee. 😉 xx Michael
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It won’t be your last, I promise you that. 😋🍂
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