Zada's Chocolates

This is NOT a picture of Zada's chocolates ...

As far as I know, we don't have a photo of Grandma Zada's candies. Back in the day before digital photos, when pictures required film and developing, photos were fewer and further between, and I'm thinking Grandma didn't think to take a picture of her candies. After all, they were for eating, not for looking at.

Grandma made a wide variety of candies. I can remember divinity, an assortment of dipped chocolates, and recently uncovered in the Westra archives, is a recipe (in Grandma Zada's handwriting) for English Toffee. 

I don't know if Grandma has the instructions (in addition to the ingredients) written somewhere, or if she just knew the steps well enough that she didn't write them down. Toffee can be tricky. You need to combine and heat the butter, sugar, water, syrup and salt to "hard crack" (295°-305° on a candy thermometer) add the vanilla, and pour into a prepared pan. Melt the chocolate and spread over the hardened candy, and top with nuts (if desired). 

Once, when Jen was a teen, she tried making some English Toffee. She got distracted and left the kitchen for a bit ... while the concoction was heating on the stove. Then, remembering and returning to the kitchen she found it FULL of smoke. Little Derek was in the kitchen, standing looking up at the layer of smoke that was almost to his head. Jen grabbed the pot and dashed out the back door then opened all the windows to let the kitchen air out. The "candy" was a blackened, circular briquet. It was a while before Jen attempted toffee again!