Aunt Bill's Brown Candy

Christmas has officially begun at the Goodnight house. I made Aunt Bill's Brown Candy yesterday. If you've never tasted this sweet, you've got to give it a try. It has the consistency of fudge but tastes more like a praline chocked full of pecans-- 2 whole pounds of pecans! Here's the recipe:

6 cups sugar
1 pint milk (or half and half if you're going for it)
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
4-5 cups of pecans (2 pounds)

Put 2 cups cugar into a heavy pan over very low heat.(I use a cast iron skillet) Stir often with a wooden spoon for about 30 minutes until light brown and melted. At the same time, mix 4 cups sugar with milk over low heat in another heavy, larger pot.(A big, stew-type pot) When the first sugar is mlted, pour slowly into the second mixture in a fine stream, stirring constantly. (It's good to have another person help at this point, but you can do it alone.) Cook to firm ball stage, turn off heat, then add baking soda, stirring vigorously as it foams. Add butter and stir until melted. Cool for 20 minutes. Add vanilla and beat until the candy begins to get thick, heavy, and dull. Add nuts. Turn into buttered pan (9x13), cut while still hot. Enjoy!