(This recipe comes from Miss Gertrude, Mama’s friend and neighbor.)
Pecan trees grew everywhere in St. Martinville. During pecan season, my cousin Margie and I would go outside and pick pecans that fell from the trees in our yards. We would sell the pecans we picked to the merchant on Main Street for just enough money to get into the movie (9 cents).
Ingredients:
- 3 cups white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup condensed milk
- 1 cup sweet milk
- ½ cup light Karo syrup
- ½ cup honey
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 quarts of pecans
- Dash of salt
Directions:
- Prepare the Mixture: In a large saucepan, combine the white sugar, brown sugar, condensed milk, sweet milk, Karo syrup, honey, butter, and a dash of salt. Stir the mixture until all the ingredients are well combined.
- Cook Until Soft Ball Stage: Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it reaches the soft ball stage. To test for the softball stage, drop a small amount of the mixture into a cup of water. It should form a soft ball that holds its shape when removed from the water.
- Add Pecans: Once the mixture reaches the soft ball stage, stir in the pecans and continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Incorporate Vanilla: After 10 minutes of cooking with the pecans, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. This will add a delightful aroma and depth of flavor to the pralines.
- Form Praline Patties: While the mixture is still warm, carefully spoon it onto wax paper or freezer paper, waxy side up, and arrange on baking pans. Use a spoon to form the mixture into patties about the size of a large cookie. Allow the pralines to cool completely until they are set.
- Enjoy and Share: Once the pralines are completely set, indulge in the sweet bliss of Miss Gertrude’s Pralines. Share them with loved ones, savoring the joy of homemade treats and the cherished memories they evoke.
Margie was enterprising when it came to picking pecans. Later she started a successful business, Cane River Pecans), which today is still going strong.
