Famous Fudge

I have not yet tried this, but it is from an overdue library book (From Our Mothers' Kitchens) and I want to return the book tomorrow, so need to get the recipes I want to try copied down, pronto. I would very much like to try this fudge, but I know I don't have the arm strength to pull it off. I may try it with my heavy-duty mixer; what's the worst that could happen? Anita Stewart, the author of the cookbook and the daughter of the recipe's originator, says you can use this recipe to make chocolate fudge: "Add 3 coarsely diced squares of semisweet chocolate to the final mixture to make a creamy chocolate variation."

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Yields: 36 squares

Ingredients

• 3  cups  packed light brown sugar
• 1⁄3 cup corn syrup
• 1⁄3 cup  whole milk (not lowfat or skim)
• 3  tablespoons butter
• 1  teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Butter a 9-inch square pan and set aside.
2. In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, milk and butter and then bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar.
3. Insert a candy thermometer so that it doesn't touch the bottom of the pan and cook, without stirring, until temperature reaches 238F (115C) or soft-ball-stage, watching very carefully during the final minutes of cooking.
4. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and the nuts, if using.
5. With a wooden spoon and a lot of elbow grease, beat fudge until it begins to thicken, about 7 to 10 minutes.
6. Pour into prepared pan and let cool; score with a sharp knife into squares or bars before the fudge is fully set.