Spicy Nut Brittle

2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
3 cups mixed nuts
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons Tabasco brand pepper sauce

Heat sugar, corn syrup and water to boiling in heavy 2-quart saucepan over high heat, stirring constantly until sugar is completely dissolved. Set candy thermometer in place and continue cooking until thermometer reaches 300 degrees F or hard-crack stage (when a small amount of mixture dropped into very cold water separates into hard and brittle threads.)

Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in nuts, butter, baking soda and Tabasco sauce. Immediately pour into large, greased cookie sheet. With two forks, quickly stretch nut mixture to cover entire cookie sheet.

Allow brittle to cool completely. Break into pieces.

Makes about 1 1/2 pounds.