3 cups sugar
3/4 stick butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup boiling water

Combine in large, heavy saucepan:

3 cups sugar
1 cup boiling water

Cook over low heat to soft ball stage (234°F).

While mixture is cooking, heat to the boiling point:

1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 stick butter

Combine mixtures and cook to hard ball stage (258°F). Remove from heat. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour out onto a well-buttered marble slab.

Begin to pull as soon as candy is cool enough to work with hands. Pull until candy begins to turn creamy and hardens.

Stretch into long, thin rope and cut with scissors sprayed with non-stick spray or brushed with vegetable or mineral oil.

Makes about 1 1/4 pounds.