As a twentysomething young woman, KENNAH MASON (Franklin, Tennessee) considers herself very fortunate to still have a grandmother, let alone a great-grandmother! Her great-grandmother, BILLIE BUSHONG (Lewisville, Texas), is known to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as Honey. Honey was born and raised in Mertvon, Texas. Kennah laughs as she shares one of Honey’s memorable one-liners: “You can get happy in the same panties you got mad in.” Kennah says the four generations of women in her family enjoy being in the kitchen together. Honey has made this candy every Christmas since she was about sixteen years old.
Cooking spray
2 cups sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
½ cup water
2 cups shelled raw peanuts
1 heaping teaspoon baking soda
1 Spray a cookie sheet.
2 In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, cook the sugar, corn syrup, and water to the soft ball stage—238 degrees. Add the peanuts, stirring constantly. Continue cooking to the hard crack stage—300 degrees (when candy syrup dropped into cold water separates into hard, brittle threads).
3 Remove from the heat and add the baking soda. Stir until it turns golden brown. Pour onto the cookie sheet and allow the candy to expand itself; do not mix around with a spoon after poured.
4 Cool for approximately 15 minutes, then break into pieces. Store in an airtight container or plastic bag.
MAKES APPROXIMATELY 1 ½ POUNDS.