Recipe - Pecan Butter Crunch - (Heath Bar)

3 cup Pecans; finely chopped
Three fourths lb
One half pound Butter; unsalted, grade AA
Land 'O Lakes
1 cup Granlated sugar
One fourth cup Water
1 tablespoon Light corn syrup
Salt; pinch
10 ounce Milk chocolate bars
8 ounce Bakers German's Dark Sweet
chocolate

Preheat oven to 300ø. This recipe requires a candy thermometer. Although
somewhat expensive to make, butter crunch goes far, and can be used for a
large number of gifts. It keeps and travels well, and can be made up to two
months in advance. Line large pan (such as 15 x 10 x 1 1/2inch jelly roll
pan) with aluminum Foil. Set aside. Divide pecans between two small baking
pans (such as 9inch cake pans), evenly spreading 1 One half cups in each. Bake
until golden (about 15 minutes). Turn off oven, but leave pans inside to
keep nuts warm. Put butter in heavy 2quart saucepan. Cook over low heat
until melted. Stir in sugar, water, and corn syrup. Increase flame to
mediumhigh. Cook, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until sugar has
dissolved and mixture comes to a boil (4 5 minutes). Insert candy
thermometer. Continue boiling at moderate,s teady rate, stirring almost
constantly, until thermometer reaches 300 degrees F. (hard crack stage).
(Total cooking time will be approximately 20 minutes.) IMMEDIATELY turn off
flame under pot. QUICKLY stir in salt and 1 One half cups (contents of one pan)
pecans. Pour into foillined pan, using wooden spoon to spread mixture to
edges. In top of double boiler (over simmering water), melt chocolate. Turn
off flame. Quickly spread onehalf of the melted chocolate over the cooled
toffee. Evenly sprinkle with onehalf of the remaining pecans. Pat down
with spatula. Cover pan with waxed paper. Top with inverted cookie sheet.
Carefully invert. Peel off foil. Spread toffee with remaining melted
chocolate. Sprinkle with remaining nuts. Pat down with spatula. Refrigerate
until firm. Break into bitesized pieces. Store in airtight container. (It
will remain fresh for at least two months.)

From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini