Buttermilk Pralines – Taste Test Winner

This is the BEST praline recipe.  One holiday season Mark and his dad wanted pralines.  Gladys (his mother) and I tried so many recipes in search of the perfect praline and this recipe is the winner.

Get a very large pot; bigger than you think.

1 cup buttermilk

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 – 2 cups pecans (I prefer whole pecans.  You can also toast your pecans.)

Mix first three ingredients together and cook over medium high heat until mixture comes to soft-ball stage.  The mixture will rise very high in the pot and will turn darker and darker.  Once the mixture reaches soft-ball stage, remove from heat and add pecans.  Pour onto waxed paper immediately using a large spoon.  The mixture will spread so space your patties appropriately.  This part of the process usually takes two people.

Soft-ball stage:  Place a drop of boiling mixture into a cup of cold water.   The drop of hot mixture will form a soft, flexible ball – that you can pick up.  About 234 to 240 degrees before putting in water.

Coconut Skillet Cookies – A holiday favorite!

This is one of my favorite holiday cookies that my mother made every year. 

2 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

1 stick butter

8 ounces dates, chopped

1 cup pecans, chopped

2 cups Rick Krispies toasted rice cereal

1 teaspoon vanilla

Coconut, toasted

Powdered sugar, optional

In an iron skillet, mix 2 egg yolks, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 stick butter, 8 ounces dates, and 1 cup pecans.  Cook slowly for 10 minutes, remove from heat and add:  2 cups Rice Krispies and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
 
Shape and roll in coconut or powdered sugar.  My mama would toast the coconut.  Yummmmmm!