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| Sarah Gonzales Begue and John Louis Begue with grandchildren Vera Booksh and John Hertz 1941 |
My Grandma Sarah Ann Gonzales was born 26 December 1888 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She married John Louis Begue on 20 November 1907. They had nine children and 16 grandchildren. She was a terrific cook. She rarely used a recipe. She just knew by looking and smelling when everything was just right. One of the things she taught me to make was Pecan Pralines. (And that's pronounced PahCAWN PrahLEENS.)
PECAN PRALINES
(The amounts come from a printed recipe in a New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper clipping.)
3 cups brown sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
2 1/2 cups chopped pecans
2 tablespoons butter
1 or 2 teaspoons vanilla
Heat 2 cups of sugar with the milk over medium heat, stirring often. Add the butter and pecans and stir constantly. Cook slowly until it forms a soft ball when dropped into a cup of cold water. Take off the stove to cool for a little whiile. Then drop by large spoonfuls onto wax paper. When the pralines have cooled and hardened store in a tin to enjoy for Christmas.
If you don't have the time or patience for that recipe you can make Microwave Pralines using this recipe from a Louisiana friend:
Mix all ingredients except the pecans and microwave on high for 9 minutes. Add pecans and stir until thick. Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper.
