Orange Candied Nuts

3 cups pecan or walnut halves
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup grated orange rind
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

Place pecans in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake at 250 degrees F for 5 minutes. Remove from oven, and set aside.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add 1/4 cup of the sugar, corn syrup, orange rind, juice and lemon rind, stirring well. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil, without stirring, for 5 minutes.

Pour syrup over pecans, stirring gently to coat well. Bake at 250 degrees F for 1 hour, stirring frequently.

Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Spread onto greased baking sheets. Separate pecans with a fork. Let cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Yields 3 cups.