Sunday, December 6, 2009

Pecan Pralines -Two Ways + Cajun Lagniappe'

Here is one of my favorite praline recipes that I acquired from Vermilionville ( a Cajun Heritage and Folklife Park) in Lafayette, from Margo Latiolais. She was conducting a cooking demonstration in the L'ecole de Cuisine  (cooking school) on how to make Pecan Pralines, the old-fashioned Cajun way. One bite of these heavenly, melt-in-your-mouth pralines will send you into orbit. Cest bon, cher!
Margo's Pecan Pralines

2 cups brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
2 tbs.'s melted butter
2 tbs.'s vanilla
2 cups pecans, whole or chopped

*Mix brown and white sugar,and evaporated milk, in saucepan
*Continue cooking and stirring on medium heat until mixture reaches a softball stage
*Stir constantly and add butter, vanilla, and pecans
*Continue cooking about 1 minute or until mixture is thick again
*Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper

********
Here is another great praline recipe, using the modern Creole method . These are fabulous and make wonderful gifts, nestled in a holiday tin. Enjoy!



********
Cajun Lagniappe'
 

It was a cold, but fun weekend in Cajun Country! On Saturday, one of my dear friends called and wanted to take me to lunch. So, I was delighted to go and let her choose the restaurant because it was her treat. She wanted to go to this great Chinese buffet that I hadn't been to in ages. This particular place has an awesome buffet that includes king crab legs, boiled shrimp,  and boiled crawfish, in season, as well as a super salad and fruit bar,  plus the standard Chinese cuisine. Only in Lafayette, will you find all of these items on one giant buffet! So, we thoroughly "pigged-out" on everything and got around to opening our fortune cookies.  Have a great week everyone! Merci for stopping by!

19 comments:

Joanne said...

Nancy's links would make a wonderful holiday cookbook with a great spin - filled with blog-linked recipes giving them all a lot of personality :)

Cathy said...

I think the passion can come from a strong friendship :) And in bed...well, that just works - love that part of fortune cookies!

Kat said...

I enjoyed the video, especially in reverse!
I don't know what to say on the friendship/passion thing. I have learned from my own relationship that the older I (we) get the more important it is to keep the frienship front and center and the passion will come, just not as often.

Nancy said...

These look heavenly - and I loved the sound of the young girls eating the pralines on the video! So cute. I'll make these for gifts, I think.

The Cajun tradition of adding "in bed" is so funny! Love it.

Thanks for participating, Marguerite!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

LOVE pralines... already have a recipe, but it sounds very similar to your first one...

As to the fortune, it occurs to me that I have had more passionate romances than true friends... Take the friend, romances are easy if that is what you want, and for that reason, easily replaced. Not so friends

judi/Gmj said...

25 years ago my husband told me, "Honey, we got the rest of our lives, we don't have to use it up this week!"
Ha.. now That he is almost 70 lets talk about that again, I'm still holding out for the passion. If I wanted a just a good friendship, I get a dog!
Sounds like a great recipe... but Pralines make my teeth hurt. to sweet.

Jo said...

My taste buds just sat up and did a little dance, reading that recipe.

We always played that game where we added "in bed" to our fortune cookies. It's a hoot, hey?

Marguerite said...

Joanne- You're so right, and I hope that many other bloggers will add their recipes to her post. Thanks for coming by!

Cathy- I think that it mainly depends on the two people involved. Yes, it's so funny when added to some of them.

Kat- Glad you liked it, cher! I really simplifies the process. Thanks so much for your input and for your comment.

Nancy- Thanks, your cream puffs are very heavenly looking, too! The fortune cookie tradition is hilarious. You're welcome, it was my pleasure!

Dave- I'd love to see your praline recipe! Thanks for your opinion on the friendship vs romance. Nice to get a guy's point of view.

Judi- You crack me up! Love what you said about getting a dog! lol Thanks for sharing your view on this. Sorry, but the pralines are mostly sugar, and I don't eat candy for the same reason.

Cloudia said...

Yes, good friendships make life livable, mon Cher!



Aloha,


Comfort Spiral

A Cajun Down Under said...

I haven't made pralines in years, but that recipe looks great. I think I will try them this Christmas.

The Good Cook said...

I am going to make these pralines! They look so good. Thanks for the recipe.

I think a passion turns to wonderful friendship after a while... my husband is my best friend (and all the other stuff too!)

Rosaria Williams said...

Margherite, this is just what will go best with the panettone. Lots of taste and easy to make.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I've always wanted to make pralines but just too scared to try it. I may ask some family to ship some to me for Christmas.

Passion sometimes is so short lived...

You should do a post about the Cajun wedding custom the jar of red beans...lol!

Shammickite said...

I think I'll have to try making this! It sounds deeeelish!
But some of your recipes.... e.g.: the last one, Tamale pie, are hard for me to find the right ingredients here in Canada. Perhaps I'll just have to look harder.

Shammickite said...

.... and as for the passion, well, non existant at the moment I'm sad to say.

Elizabeth Bradley said...

I agree with the original fortune. I was friends first with The Husband and we have a wonderful marriage because, not only do we love each other, we LIKE each other. He's my best friend and he tells me I'm his. So, the "in bed" part works for us too!

Yummy, pralines, I'm drooling...

Sniffles and Smiles said...

A good friendship is a solid foundation for a passionate romance... ;-) How's that?! Loved the sound of these recipes...and not only do they sound delicious...they look uncomplicated...something that is definitely a bonus when I'm in the kitchen!! Thanks, dearest Marguerite...hope your holiday season slows down a little, and that you are able to find plenty of time to relax with those you love!!! Love you!!! Janine XO

Marguerite said...

Cloudia- You are so right, cher, and fun, too! Aloha, Gal pal!

Cajun- Thanks, I'm so glad that you want to make them! They're so good and such a Cajun tradition. Merci for dropping by!

Good Cook- Thanks so much, I know that you will love the pralines! And thanks for your vote on the friendship and for visiting!


lakeviewer- So good to hear from you! Sounds like a great combo. (Cajun-Italian!):) Thanks for visiting!

Katherine- Are you pulling my leg, cher? A great cook like you could whip these pralines up in a flash! Do try them, they're so easy!
Merci for your input on the passion. Good idea about the wedding post!

Shammickite- Hey lady, good to see you! If you are referring to the Cajun seasoning, see my last post for the recipe. Thanks for your nice comments and for coming by!

Elizabeth- It's so nice when a marriage works that way. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you try the pralines. They are high in calories, but who's counting? lol

Janine- Or a passionate romance can be a solid foundation for a good friendship! Guess it could work both ways!:) Merci, cher, glad you like them! Slow down, not a shot, at least not until New Years!

ellen abbott said...

When I was young and my parents would go to New Orleans (they didn't always take us kids with them) the best part was them coming back with a box of pralines from The Green Orchid. I just got finished shelling about 50 pounds of pecans from the trees at the country house so I am definitely going to try making some. Thanks for the recipe.