Pecan Pralines - OUr Family Recipe
Daddy or Mama used to make these at Christmas.  Best made on a dry day!  A delicious New Orleans and Deep-South favorite.
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Makes 12 four-inch pralines.
1 cup sugar
2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/4 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 cups pecans (you can use halves, but I like broken pieces)
  1. Combine all sugar, corn syrup, salt, and milk in a heavy saucepan.  Brink to a boil and cook, WITHOUT stirring, until 236 degrees on a candy thermometer OR until a little of the mixture dropped into cold water forms a soft ball.
  2. Remove from heat and let stand until lukewarm.  Stir in vanilla and pecans and beat with a spoon until  the mixture begins to thicken and loses its glass.
  3. Drop from tablespoon unto wax paper and spread a little bit to form patties about 4 inches in diameter.  If you want to put a pecan half on top, now's the time to do it!
  4.  Let stand until firm.