Praline

Posted on | April 9, 2012 | No Comments

Three years ago, I started a new section on Craft Stew, called Cookbooks.

The idea behind the new section was to make a public commitment to cook my way through several of my unused cookbooks, or throw them out. I’m sad to say, the experiment has not worked out the way I had hoped. Over three years, I have made only seven new recipes from the books I had listed, and I won’t keep my promise to myself and trash them.

Today, simply out of shame, I decided to try recipe number eight.

The recipe, called Praline, came from the Vegetarian Express Lane Cookbook by Sarah Fritschner. I have never made candy before, but since I have had a lot of past success with Sarah’s recipes, I figure things would work out well.

They didn’t.

The recipe, in brief, calls for toasting one cup of nuts, melting one cup of sugar over a low flame, combining the two ingredients and allowing to cool on an oiled surface.

The recipe was a complete disaster. Instead of melting, the sugar clumped up. I believe this was because the heat was too high, but as I have no experience with candy making, so I’m not sure.

I am now left with a pot covered with sugary mess, and a tray full of disgusting sugary clumps.

Was there a problem with the recipe? I doubt it. I think I just needed more detailed instructions for my first foray into candy making.

Get your own copy of Vegetarian Express Lane Cookbook: Hassle-Free, Healthful Meals for Really Busy Cooks (affiliate link) at Amazon.

Read More: Cookbooks or Home