Grease an 8 by 8-inch pan with butter, or line it with waxed paper.

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, chocolate, 1 1/2 tablespoons of the butter, the half-and-half, and the corn syrup. Stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and the chocolate is melted.

Increase the heat and bring to a boil without stirring. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 3 minutes. Remove the cover and attach a candy thermometer to the pot. Cook until the thermometer reads 234°F.

Remove it from the heat and add the remaining butter. Do not stir Let the mixture cool for 10 minutes, or until it drops to 130°F. Add vanilla and nuts, if desired, and stir until the mixture well-blended and its appearance changes from shiny to matte. This might take a while-up to 15 to 20 minutes. Be strong

Pour the fudge into the prepared pan. Let it sit in a cool dry area until firm, 3 to 4 hours. Cut into 1-inch pieces and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

Making Fudge From Scratch