Collins Family Closely Guarded Caramel Recipe

Combine sugar, corn syrup and butter in a heavy pan. Heat and stir until sugar dissolves. Add 1/2 of cream and continue to heat, stirring often until it comes to a boil. Add remainng cream slowly, and let boil. Continue stirring and boiling until firm ball forms in cold water (takes a while -- maybe 20 minutes). Stir in vanilla and nuts and pour in buttered 8x8 pan. Cool completely, and then cut into squares and wrap in squares of wax paper. (Cut a couple until you make sure they're the right size -- ).