Earl and Della Matthis were the owners of Mail Boxes Etc. when Lucas and I worked there. One of the best parts about working at MBE (besides the coworker romances!) was Christmas time when Della would make huge bowls full of these nuts.
Lydia
Ingredients
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 lbs walnuts halves and pieces
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla
Directions
Do NOT mix together!!! Just dump ingredients (except for walnuts and vanilla) all together in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium to high heat. Do NOT stir. Use a candy thermometer to bring syrup to softball stage (240º). Meanwhile, put the walnuts on a cookie sheet into a 375º oven for 15 minutes. Stir every five minutes. When syrup is softball stage, take it off the heat, pour in vanilla and all of the nuts at once. Stir just until coated. Pour nut mixture onto waxed paper or greased tin foil to cool. Spread them out fairly flat to help cool faster. Break in to pieces. Enjoy!
Della (Lydia’s friend)
Eagle River, Alaska