Old Fashioned Pralines Food

PECAN PRALINES (OLD FASHIONED)

Steps:

• Combine sugar, margarine and milk.
• Cook to a soft ball stage.
• (when a little placed in a cup of cold water forms a soft ball) Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and pecans.
• Stir until it begins to thicken (doesn't take long, will have to work fast).
• Drop by tablespoons on waxed paper or buttered dish.
• Ready to eat when cooled.
• Store remainder in airtight container.

PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Place both types sugar and the cream in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. When the temperature reaches 228 degrees on candy thermometer, stir in the butter and pecans and continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 236 degrees. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the mixture to cool for 5 minutes. Beat the mixture with a wooden spoon until the candy coats the pecans but does not lose its gloss. Drop the pralines 1 tablespoon at a time onto a well-greased piece of aluminum foil or a slab of confectioner's marble. Allow the pralines to cool. They can be eaten as is, stored in tins, or crumbled over vanilla ice cream for a New Orleans - style dessert.

NEW ORLEANS PRALINES

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray. Alternatively, use a silicone mat on top of the baking sheet.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the white sugar, brown sugar, and evaporated milk.
• Stir until the sugar dissolves. Once all is well mixed, insert a candy thermometer . Cook the candy, stirring occasionally, until the thermometer reads 240 F.
• Once the proper temperature is reached, remove the pan from the heat and drop the cubes of butter on top, without stirring. Allow the sugar mixture to sit for 1 minute.
• Add the vanilla extract and pecans.
• Begin to stir smoothly and constantly with a wooden spoon; the candy will begin to thicken and appear lighter in color. Continue to stir until the candy starts to hold its shape. It should still be easy to stir, but don't overdo it, as pralines quickly go from fluid to rock-solid.
• Once the confection has a lighter opaque-brown color and is holding its shape, work quicky and drop small spoonfuls of the candy onto the prepared baking sheet. Because the pralines will start to set in the saucepan, you need to spoon out the candy as fast as you safely can. If the candy stiffens before you're done scooping, add a spoonful of boiling hot water and stir until it loosens, then continue scooping until you have formed all the pralines.
• Allow the candy to fully set at room temperature; it should take about 30 minutes for the pralines to harden. Store the pralines in an airtight container at room temperature. Enjoy.

CLASSIC PRALINES

Steps:

• Prepare a sheet tray by covering it with waxed paper.
• Combine brown sugar and cream in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Stir with a wooden spoon until sugar is dissolved, then do not stir anymore.
• Insert a candy thermometer and boil until the sugar reaches 240 F (soft-ball stage).
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Continue to stir until the mixture thickens and becomes opaque.
• Stir in all pecans, and drop by teaspoonfuls on a prepared sheet tray.
• Allow to cool completely at room temperature before removing from waxed paper.
• Serve and enjoy!

OLD-FASHIONED PRALINES

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and bring to soft ball stage (230 to 240 degrees), stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir until mixture thickens, becomes creamy and cloudy, and pecans stay suspended in mixture.
• Spoon out on aluminum foil or parchment paper.
• Makes approximately fifteen to twenty pralines, depending on size.
• Note: To roast pecans, bake them on a sheet pan at 275 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until slightly brown.

PRALINES

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• In large saucepan over medium heat, combine pecans, sugar, butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface.
• Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. Let cool completely.

SOUTHERN PRALINES

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cream, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook until a candy thermometer reads 230° (thread stage), stirring occasionally., Carefully stir in pecans and butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 236° (soft-ball stage)., Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Beat with a wooden spoon until candy thickens and begins to lose its gloss, about 4-5 minutes. , Quickly drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper; spread to form 2-in. patties. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container.