Recipe for Cady Family Holiday Toffee

1 lb. of butter (add 1/2 teaspoon salt if unsalted)
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 lb. mixed nuts
1 lb. chocolate chips (we prefer dark chocolate)

Chop the nuts and spread them out on wax paper on two cookie sheets. Put the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a cast iron skillet before turning on the heat.

Cook on medium heat stirring slowly and constantly with a wooden spoon. For 10-15 minutes it doesn't seem like much is happening, but is important to keep stirring. Eventually the toffee mixture will bubble and turn brown.

To test whether the mixture is done, dribble a little bit of it into a bowl of ice water. After it cools, bite it. If it does not stick to your teeth, the toffee is done.

Pour the toffee mixture over the chopped nuts. We grab the handle of the skillet with a hot pad and the opposite end with vise grip pliers.

Place the chocolate chips on top of the toffee mixture. Wait a few minutes for the chocolate to melt then spread it evenly using a spatula.

Let it cool overnight, break it into pieces, and watch it disappear!