i had input from several great friends who took their time to help in the search.
on g, juels, tink, danadooley and magandab.
cherylann from ez cooking
magandab sent me a link on g for a pan at target and since i pass it often and by chance the day she sent her message on gr, i stopped and checked the pan made by calphalon.
very heavy, straight sides so it would be easy to attach a candy thermometer and a glass lid with a dip lip with strainer capability.
what an incredible pan for $60. why; i am able to put the butter and sugars into the pan and not worry about burning! i made toffee again last night and to really test it, set the temp 1 line about medium on the electric stove. i would stir about every 10 minutes and then do something else; well i was making a cheese cake while the toffee cooked. every time i checked, it was boiling up, stir and i could feel nothing sticking to the bottom and burning like my old copper bottom revere ware steel 3 quart pot.
i placed a mat over the pot as it boiled as the cool air was affecting the rise in temperature. the notch in the side for pouring let me leave my bamboo spoon in pot, the thermometer clipped to the side. once the mix reached 285 i poured the mix into the pan and it was so cool to see how the very last bit slipped right out of the pan. this is a fantastic pot for making toffee and recommend without reservation the purchase of this pot by calphalon.
double thanks to magandab for sending me to my perfect candy pan. eating my toffee makes see's toffee-ettes taste like dirt
this is the link magandab sent me
http://www.target.com/kitchen-essentials-calphalon-hard-anodized-straining/dp/b000jm34km/qid=1234998462/ref=br_1_4/192-4549105-5227516 ie=utf8&node=11082001&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1