Night of the Baking Disaster Part Two: Friends don't let friends who can't bake bake

What's that smell, you ask? Oh, it's just the scent of burning sugar. Really hot burning sugar. Yep, completely "forgetting" last night's disaster, I decided to try to make REAL toffee tonight. The kind that requires sugar, butter and not much else (no stupid flour tonight!) all cooked to like a million degrees. I even walked to the store to buy a pound of butter, a ton of sugar, and a candy thermometer. I realized I forgot to buy chocolate chips in the parking lot.  Did I take that as a sign to turn back? Maybe buy the chocolate chips or, better yet, just buy an already fabulously baked dessert? HELL NO! Not only would that mean giving up, but it would also mean facing that hellish wait in line again (seriously, 10 people deep for each of the mere three checkers working). 

So tonight I'm pretty sure I got all the ingredients correct but I didn't do much research into my saucepan. I think I have the type that's slow to warm up but once warm it just keeps agoin'. Because, wow! My pot o' sugar and butter went from 250 to 300 in like five seconds. And those dark spots? Oh, just vast swaths of burnt sugar. *sigh* I can't wait to taste this disaster... 

And I'm vividly reminded why I neither cook nor bake on a regular basis (besides the burnt fingers, I mean) - dishes. Bleeech! I have dishpan nails now.