2 cups sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped nuts

In a large, heavy bottomed saucepan, combine buttermilk and baking soda. Add sugar and cook, stirring constantly over high heat for about 5 minutes (210°F) and scraping bottom of pan, until mixture reaches the softball stage (234°F) on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat.

Add butter, vanilla and nuts and beat with a mixer until mixture has thickened and is creamy. Spoon out onto buttered wax paper into 2-inch round patties. Let cool.

Makes about 18 2-inch patties.