Yep -
Toffee
Makes enough for a 18cm x18cm square tin - original recipe said 7 inch sq tin, greased with butter.
2oz/60g sugar
3oz/90g butter
2 tbsps golden syrup
1 tin of sweetened condensed milk
Heat the butter, sugar and syrup in a very thick heavy pan, stirring continually until all the sugar has dissolved. Then, and only then, add the condensed milk.
Bring to the boil, stirring, and then boil to hard ball stage ie when a little dropped into cold water forms a hard chewy ball - bit like the finished result you are looking for. Can't remember the temperature, but a sugar thermometer will have it on if you prefer that method of testing. You have to stir all the time because, as the sugar heats and caramelises it starts to catch as it darkens in colour, and stirring helps to keep the little burnt bits small.
Pour into the greased tin, and when it has cooled slightly, mark into squares with a lightly buttered knife.
When it's really set well, you can turn the toffee out all in one piece and cut it into strips using a heavy 10" knife. These can be cut across with either a heavy knife or with oiled kitchen scissors. You can wrap it in greaseproof paper squares, but they do have a tendancy to tear at the twists. Waxed paper would be better if you can get it - sort of carambar type paper.
It's a lovely recipe, came from Woman and Home some time in the 70s and was a family favourite. My df used to refer to it as denture fixative, while remaining completely deadpan. If it doesn't turn out quite right - then try with butter and sugar weights swapped round. Sorry, I never wrote it down, and just hope I haven't got the butter and sugar the wrong way round.
However, I don't really think it makes very much difference, given the amount of sugar in the syrup and the condensed milk. However, you do need the liquid from the butter to help the sugar, and to make it rich and creamy.
For the syrup I mean the really big serving spoon size of tablespoon, not the 15 ml measuring ones used for spices. You could always an oval wooden spoon with a bowl about 3"/7cm in length, which contains about the same amount.
Enjoy
- if it doesn't work, would be happy to accept the rejects.