The First Day of Winter

Doesn't this look like a perfect start to Winter? I loved how it looked this morning. I admit to being very fond of December 21st, Don't know why, except good things always happen on December 21st. When I was a kid, I got surprise presents on the 21st, I think I like it because by the time the 21st gets here, I am finished with all the have toos and can do some things at a peaceful pace.

This is my favorite English Toffee recipe, don't make it if you have no will power. I am not a big candy eater, well you know home made candy, not the cheap kind, like M&Ms, Milky Way and of course the best of all mini Cadbury Eggs.
I sit and stare at this recipe every year and my common sense takes over and I put it away. I am having the same tussle in my mind today. It is so easy to make, so fast and so good, the flip side is I can't leave it alone and already I am making up excuses to not get on the scale. So here goes.

English Toffee
2 cups butter (1 pound)
2 cups of light brown sugar firmly packed
6 ounces of milk chocolate morsels
Almonds finely chopped

Melt butter in a pan. Add light brown sugar. Bring to a boil and cook to "light crack" stage on a candy thermometer, stirring constantly, Pour quickly onto a lightly-buttered 9-by-13 in pan.
(Buttered pan may be sprinkled with finely chopped almonds before pouring brown sugar and butter mixture.) While candy is still warm, sprinkle with milk chocolate morsels. Let sit for two minutes, then spread chocolate over top of candy covering entire area. Sprinkle with finely chopped almonds.
Now what I change,
I use a whole package of chocolate chips and I use what ever I have, sometimes even white. Then I make two batches with white and dark. I use what ever kind of chopped nuts I might have and if I don't I just don't use nuts. It is good no matter what. It is pretty too.

Happy Monday! Winter Solstice for those of you of pagan natures. I always wonder do they dance around out in the open naked in December? Just wondering. :)