I found that praline recipe many years ago and only tried my hand at making the scrumptious treat once a year at the Thanksgiving/Christmas Holidays. I failed many times. Spooned them out to "turn"...only to end up with taffy and not the smooth, melt -in -your mouth candy Mother was known for. In an earlier blog I shared how I came about realizing that my recipe was flawed. That was only about 7 or 8 years ago....so for about 20 years I've failed more times than succeeded with this candy. But, now, I can whip it together and put out a praline...none like you will ever find in a local store or souvenir shop.
As I whipped up a "batch of pralines" (a term my mom used) last night before Thanksgiving Day.....I took some pictures of the progress which I will post in this blog along with the recipe. The ingredients are few...it's the technique that has to be practiced....my ingredient list came with only one instruction. I will try to give the reader of this blog a few more hints as I have learned how to perfect this art of making pralines.
PECAN PRALINES
1/3 cup light Karo corn syrup
2 cups white sugar
6 oz. evaporated milk (l/2 can)
pinch of salt
2 cups pecan halves (toasted at 200 degrees for 15 min.)
1/4 stick butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Put the first 4 ingredients in 3 quart. pot over med heat and stir till starting to bubble
Add pecans and continue stirring adjusting the temp. as to not stick....letting it boil gently
Let it cook to firm soft ball stage (deep caramel color)
Take off fire and put on heat pad to "beat"...adding the butter and vanilla
You will beat till just before candy begins to "turn" then drop by teaspoon on to waxed paper
(this is the tricky part...how much to beat...if it hardens too much...add a (very) little more evaporated milk and return to stove to melt....then go back to dropping by spoonfuls)
cooking to reach the "perfect" stage
Just right "caramel" color ready to 'beat"
"beating" to the turn out stage
"turned"!!
If you decide to try your hand at this candy making family recipe....let me know how yours comes out. I'd love to hear!
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