Candied Walnuts

Photo: flickr user avlxyz

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup water

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

4 cups walnut halves

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation

Cook sugar, salt, honey, water and cinnamon over medium-high heat for 8 minutes, or until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage of 236 degrees F (113 degrees C). Remove from heat. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and 4 cups walnut halves or pieces. Stir until creamy. Turn out on waxed paper or cookie sheet. Separate walnuts.

For a change you may add grated orange rind, 1 orange, when you add vanilla.

The "soft ball stage" is when you can dribble a bit of the mixture into a bowl of water, then scoop it up and form it into a ball that can be flattened. The ball should hold its shape