So I am thinking about making toffee, but I have never done it before and

[GreenPartyVoter]

have no candy thermometer.

Is it too tricky to eyeball and get it right?

[skygazer]

1. I used to make fudge with no thermometer

I never found it overly tricky - what stage are you going for? It's pretty easy to recognize thread, soft ball, hard ball (no, this is NOT a sex thread). At least, I didn't find it difficult.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Well, sometimes I jump the gun and think I have softball but the ball goes

flat a little faster than it should. *g*

I use that method when making no-bake cookies since they are really fudge with oatmeal inside.

I am not sure if I want to make soft toffee like an English toffee chew or a hard toffee like a heath bar with no chocolate. What do you think?

[skygazer]

7. Eggnog!

Oh, sorry, wrong thread. :blush:

[RevCheesehead]

2. Sometimes I think about that,

and then I remember God made Heath bars. :9

[momophile]

3. yeah heath bars!

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Well it's a toss-up between

stealing enough change from hubby and walking 2 miles in the dark to get that heath bar....

or trying and make some toffee myself. :P

[swimboy]

6. I've had better luck when the weather is cold and clear.

Warm or wet weather can make the toffee go grainy. I use a candy thermometer to try and improve my odds. But Heath Bar or Skor is a good way to go too.

Good luck!

[lakemonster11]

8. My roommate in college almost killed me making toffee!

She was supposed to break it apart by hitting it with a mallet while it was in a plastic bag. She decided to bang it against my bedpost instead, and the bag broke apart, sending the bulk of the toffee flying at me. It's lucky I played softball for so many years, or I'm not sure I would have caught it!

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I am sorry for laughing at your misfortune but

:rofl:

That's just nuts!

Hope she made amends by letting you eat some. :)

[lakemonster11]

10. Well, she *let* me,

but it was rock hard (which I knew first-hand!).

:rofl:

[Whoa_Nelly]

11. Some helpful sites and hints

How to use water and test your candy stages
http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/candy/sugar-stages.html

Couple of easy toffee recipes
http://www.baking911.com/recipes/candy/toffee.htm

More helpful hints
http://www.baking911.com/candy/toffee.htm

Three authentic toffee recipes
http://fashion-era.com/Christmas/christmas_food_recipes_fun_kids1.htm

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Well already gave it a go. I seem to have made chewy toffee which is

fine as I like that, but I think I should have cooked it even longer than that since it seems to be melting in my mouth before I can really chew it. *l*

Oh well.