I made a double batch yesterday and it came out great. I tried to insert a picture, but the link refuses to transfer from photobucket. Don't know why, it is a first for me. Here is my recipe which I have had forever. I have no idea where I got it originally. The notes are the ones I included for my 13 year old niece: Butter pecan toffee 3/4 cup unsalted butter 1/4 cup water 1 1/4 cup white sugar 1 tsp salt 1 cup chopped pecans 1 tsp. baking soda 1/2 cup chocolate chips Grease a cookie sheet, (preferably one that is not warped in the center). In a heavy saucepan, combine butter, water, salt and sugar. Stir until butter is melted and then ignore until mixture reaches 290 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and immediately add the baking soda and 1/2 cup of the nuts (have them ready to go beforehand. You can even mix the baking soda and the 1/2 cup of nuts together first). Mix well and quickly spread the mixture in the pan. It will cool very quickly, so you have to work fast. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. As the chips melt, spread the chocolate around to cover the entire surface. Then sprinkle the remaining nuts on top of the chocolate. Press down gently to make sure the nuts stick. Refrigerate until cold. Break into pieces. Some problems with crumbly toffee may have to do with stirring it during the cooking process. Really, best to ignore and cook over a med. heat until it reaches 290. On a side note, I lived in Fl for 3 years, and it always came out wrong. I think the humidity really did a number on it. Good luck. Jo

Ahhh...so you've used Baquacil for the last 6 years until now? Yes? You didnt' say that in your first post. And right now you're using chlorine tabs in your skimmer and shocking the pool with a chlorine or non-chlorine based product for sanitizer instead of the Baquacil peroxide "shock"? Just trying to get this all straight. Are you in the middle of a Baquacil to chlorine conversion? That is a specific process, and it takes some patience to do, during which you'll see different water colors and clarity as you convert. Of course, as you already probably know using an OTO test (which shows yellow in the presence of chlorine and tests up to 5 ppm of Total Chlorine only)...a brownish red color means that you have a much higher level of Total Chlorine (Free Chlorine plus Combined Chloramines)in the water. You'd need to use an FAS/DPD drop test to very accurately determine up to 50 ppm how much Free Chlorine, Combined Chlorine and Total Chlorine you have. I use this test on my own pool frequently and it's very easy to use. I still stand by my advice. There are detailed instructions and help on TFP for Baquacil users who need/want to convert to a less expensive product, as well as immediate help with your specific issues. Cheers and I hope you get your problem solved and get back to enjoying your pool!

I don't make toffee but I do make caramels and this review from Barbara's Caramels on All Recipes has been helpful. Adjust the following to hard crack. (peanut brittle type) Review: I have read the reviews on this recipe and think I know why some of you have caramels that turn out too soft and some too hard. First of all this recipe says to cook to the hard ball stage. The hard ball stage has a range of 250 - 266 degrees. To find out what degree you should use for your candy, use this calculation...Candy should come in 1 degree lower than indicated in the recipe for each increase of 500 feet above sea level. For instance if your recipe calls for 250 degrees and you live at 2000 feet above sea level, take 4 degrees off which would come to 246 degrees. Also, the book says that one day your candy may set using 250 degrees and the next day it may take 254 degrees depending on weather, etc. You could always use the cold water test...drop a teaspoon into very cold water to see how it sets. Hard ball stage should hold it's shape when removed from the water and formed into a ball, but should still be pliable.---I HOPE THIS HELPS!!! Kim

Love your bookends.... Going to suggest you lower your TV...looks so uncomfortably high but maybe it works for you. As for what to put on your table....how about the bookends with two or three colorful books between them. Put them on one side and a low green plant on the other side.