>---------> Date Nut Roll CANDY By Edna Thompson <---------<
 
This is a favorite Christmas candy that my mother and Grandmas 
[all in heaven now] made each Christmastime for our family. 
I just love it!
 
INGREDIENTS:

3 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup whole milk
1 cup unsalted butter, divided (2 sticks)
8 - 10 ounces dried dates, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla (could use 1/2 to 2 teaspoons, depending 
on your taste)
Pinch of salt
1 cup chopped pecans (could substitute walnuts, if preferred)

DIRECTIONS:

Line four baking sheets with parchment paper or wax paper or 
clean & lint free towels.
 
Cook sugar, milk & 1 stick of butter together in sauce pan… 
to soft ball stage**.
 
Add chopped dates and stir constantly until dates cook to 
pieces. Remove from heat.
 
Add remaining stick of butter, vanilla and salt. Beat until 
creamy & starts to thicken. Then add nuts and continue beating 
until smooth.
 
Divide onto 4 pieces of parchment; carefully spreading across 
to shape into rolls. Cool and cut in slices.

~ ~ ~
 
ALTERNATIVE METHOD: Drop by teaspoonfuls onto silcon sheet or 
parchment or wax paper and allow to completely cool. OR Allow
to cool enough to handle and roll in small balls.
 
VARIATION: Add 1 to 1/2 cup chopped dried cherries when adding 
dates.
 
 
** Soft Ball Stage occurs at: 235-245 degrees. This stage can
be determined by dropping a spoonful of hot syrup into a bowl 
of very cold water. In the water, use your fingers to gather 
the cooled syrup into a ball. If it has reached soft-ball stage, 
the syrup easily forms a ball while in the cold water, but 
flattens once removed
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*~* Special THANKS To Our Friend Edna for this. *~*