PRALINES is brown-sugar and vanilla and milk and pecans, but they taste of the South to me and smell like magnolias when they're about to go into soft ball stage....

PRALINES

Bill Hahne's New Orleans Pralines

1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cups brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup Half & Half
3/4 stick butter (6 tablespoons)
1 1/2 cup pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients except pecans and vanilla. Bring to a boil. Add pecans, bring to 239 degrees. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, then stir until mixtures thickens and becomes creamy and cloudy. Spoon onto buttered waxed paper.

this is the only recipe I've ever used for makin' Pralines, that delicious soft sugar candy with pecans. I was told this guy was a famous hotel restaurant chef in New Orleans, who made these daily, to the great delight of guests for years, I believe... This is the simple truth of the recipe. but, there's more to it, of course...

first you are stirring firmly but not all whippy, until it reaches a boil, and then only very gently, very, very occasionally, at a very low boil, until it reaches Soft Ball stage: not thready, not runny, not sticky, not shimmery - sort-of gummy looking and soft - this is near-exactly 238-239 degrees on the candy thermometer. Then, take it right on off the heat and gently stir in the vanilla, which will make it creamy, then stir in the pecans and spoon it into firm puddles onto buttered wax paper set on thick newspaper. it's Very hot at this stage, so be careful...when nice and cool, they're ready. you can store them in a tin, but they should be eaten within a few days. probably they won't make it that long, anyways...if they were hardening too fast, add a little tepid water, but, if you watch them and get them exactly to soft ball stage, that shouldn't happen.

Pralines are the most delicious Southern Treat ever in the country. Though often served at Christmas Time, I believe I've had them during Mardi Gras as well. I would enjoy these any time of the year at all, I do believe...not being a traditionalist....

Here is their Poem:

Pralines were how her long hair smelled

Praline all honey brown and gold

An'  he was just some deep south boy

An' rarely did as he was told

He took her to the cypress swamp

He kissed her in the mornin' sun

Her breath was sweet as soft Pralines

Her heart was warm as when they're 'done'

He went on home in his piroque and

She went down the cypress way

She took her candy-sweetness north

She took his heart and hopes away

An' now he waits at Christmas time

The kitchen smelling Praline sweet

For his soft sweetness of a love

Who cut like pecan shards too deep

Pralines were how her long hair smelled

Pralines all honey brown and gold

An' his was just some deep south dream

A story sweet as any told