CASHEW IN RUSSIAN RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 15x10x1-inch pan with foil. Spread cashews in pan. Bake 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light brown. Pour into small bowl; set aside. Set aside pan with foil to use in step 3.
• Meanwhile, in 2-quart heavy saucepan, cook granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter and water over medium-high heat 4 to 6 minutes, stirring constantly with wooden spoon, until mixture comes to a full boil. Boil 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until candy thermometer reaches 300°F or small amount of mixture dropped into cup of ice water forms a hard brittle strand.
• Stir in 1/2 cup of the cashews; immediately pour toffee into same foil-lined pan. Quickly spread mixture to 1/4-inch thickness with rubber spatula. Sprinkle with baking chips. Let stand about 1 minute or until chips are completely softened. Spread softened chips evenly over toffee. Sprinkle with remaining cashews.
• Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until topping is firm. Break into 2x1-inch pieces. Store in tightly covered container.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200°F. Grease 2 large cookie sheets with butter; keep warm in oven. (Keeping the cookie sheets warm allows the candy to be spread 1/4 inch thick without it setting up.) Grease long metal spatula with butter; set aside.
• In small bowl, mix baking soda, 1 teaspoon water and the vanilla; set aside. In 3-quart saucepan, mix sugar, 1 cup water and the corn syrup. Cook over medium heat about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, to 240°F on candy thermometer or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from water.
• Stir in butter and cashews. Cook about 13 minutes, stirring constantly, to 300°F or until small amount of mixture dropped into cup of very cold water separates into hard, brittle threads. (Watch carefully so mixture does not burn.) Immediately remove from heat. Quickly stir in baking soda mixture until light and foamy.
• Pour half of candy mixture onto each cookie sheet and quickly spread about 1/4 inch thick with buttered spatula. Cool completely, at least 1 hour. Break into pieces. Store in airtight container at room temperature.