Shame Sticks

 This recipe was created after we watched a "King Of Queens" episode, that had, Doug, eating shame sticks . The  "shame sticks" were a stick of butter rolled in sugar. Next we saw the same things on an episode of: "Everybody Loves Raymond." I did research and found that English Toffee was essentially a " Shame Stick." I have tweaked the recipe and made my own version of  "Shame Sticks." This is great at Christmas time!

TIP: Always read a recipe through before you make it. I read it twice.


English Butter Toffee. OR as we call them: "Shame Sticks."


3/4 Pound of Butter. REAL BUTTER. Not Margarine.
1 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup of Warm Water
1/2 tsp of Pure Vanilla At this point you do not have to add the next ingredients unless you want too.

Items that may be needed:
 A Large Pot
Cookie Sheet ( not the newer "air" sheets, but any old cookie sheet.)
Pam butter spray
High heat rubber spatula
Candy Thermometer

Variations:

One Bag Of Slivered Almonds
1 Bag Of Chocolate Chips. Can be semi-sweet, milk, white or dark chocolate






Spray cookie sheet with Pam butter Spray. Turn heat on high. Combine the first 3 ingredients in a heavy pot. Cook to a light caramel color. Around 250-260 Degrees.  Use a candy thermometer.  Stir well, be careful not to burn.  Remove from heat. Add the vanilla. Spread onto the prepared cookie sheet. Spread thinly. Use the spatula, the one designed for high heat.

This part is the additional recipe:  add slivered almonds when you add the vanilla.   Spread onto the prepared cookie sheet. Spread thinly. Use a rubber spatula, the one designed for high heat. Sprinkle chocolate on top, while hot, wait for them to soften, then spread with the spatula. Spread them quite thin and evenly.

Chill in freezer and break into small pieces.

Note: I have made this both ways and with all variations of the chocolate. The favorites were dark chocolate and no chocolate or nuts.