Sunday, May 23, 2010

Sweet Melissa Sundays: Butterscotch Pralines


Candy. We need to talk.

Our relationship is complicated. For years, I've admired you from afar. I've indulged in your goodness from time to time and have rarely been disappointed. Most times you bring a smile to face. But this new personal relationship we are developing is not what I expected. I admit before we got know each other, I had taken you for granted really. You are much more complex than I realized.

I'd like think you are the source of complication in our relationship. I'm really trying here. I am playing by the rules...taking each step thoughtfully and with care. And for a bit, it seems like we are getting along splendidly. But without warning everything changes. And you have no mercy. I apologize for the harsh words. Really I do. I'm trying to be mature...but a little swearing here and there may have slipped out. I can't help myself. You are frustrating.

Why do you have to be so tempting? It makes it difficult to turn my back on you. You know my weakness and you so subtly lure me back in. You whisper sweet tid bits in my ear and I sigh and I know that I am not ready to part ways with you.

So, I will give you and me another chance. I promise to exercise patience (and will try to keep the swearing to a minimum). But you have to do your part too. You need to bring some patience and flexibility to the table. Ya. If we both put in the effort, I think we can make this work.





So, as you may be sensing after my very serious talk with candy, that things maybe didn't go so well this week. After difficulties with the truffles a couple of weeks ago, I was so hoping for a better result on the pralines. At least the pralines were salvageable (unlike my first batch of truffles). But they were beyond frustrating and the outcome, disappointing. I am not sure what went wrong, but the mixture got firm almost immediately after the butterscotch chips melted in. Melissa Murphy recommends slowly reheating if the the candy is too firm. I tried this, but it never really worked. I was barely able to get the pecans incorporated in time. And I was racing against the clock to get as many pralines on the parchment as possible. I would say I managed to get 2/3 of the mixture doled out in messy thick praline lumps. And yes, there was some swearing. My husband can attest! But on a positive note, the pralines tasted pretty good. I can see why these would be a great ice cream topping. They were firm to the touch yet have a soft give when you bite into them. These are immensely sweet and practically melt in your mouth.

These challenges are what being a part of the Sweet Melissa Sundays baking group is all about. Trying new things and taking the good with the bad. So I will chalk this one up to a learning experience. With my new trusty candy thermometer in hand, I look forward to tackling the next candy recipe (with minimal swearing).



You'll find the recipe on the Cookin Chemist site. Thanks for selecting this recipe Tess! It was certainly a learning experience for me. See what other SMS bakers did here.

15 comments:

  1. Great post! I'm sorry you had difficulty with this recipe. I'm getting ready to start it now, and I'm preparing myself for some frustration (and swearing) as cooking sugar and I have a mixed history. Your pralines look great!

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  2. Yep it looks like we both had issues but good turnouts! I still have not mastered the art of candy making. I need much more practice! Your pralines look so good and I know they taste wonderful!

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  3. I am giggling a bit. I had the opposite problem. Mine were too liquidy, no doubt because I don't own a candy thermometer. I must get one. This is silly.

    I went through all kinds of antics and finally got something although, I am sure, not what everyone else has. They were delicious though.

    I love how you wrote your post.
    t

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  4. Gloria,

    I can relate to some of your frustrations! But, I must say, this was a whimsical way of writing your post. Excellent! Very humorous!

    Good luck with baking with SMS!

    Carmen

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  5. Hahaha, I love your serious talk with candy. I've had that talk before - candy making has been endlessly frustrating for me. Sorry this week's recipe didn't go so smoothly for you! :(

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  6. Fun post! Sorry these didn't go well for you - candy making can definitely be frustrating but the results are so worth it usually! I didn't have great luck with this recipe either mainly because I tried to leave out the butterscotch chips. I did try a second recipe without butterscotch which yielded much better results though :)

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  7. I like your chat with candy! These were so thick, hard to work with and too sweet for me.

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  8. Hahaha -- I can relate! This was my second attempt at candy-making. My first was divinity. That was more than ten years ago. Yeah, that didn't turn out so well. :) I thought these were delicious, though!

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  9. Your final product sure looks good!! I am a candy novice and had to get reacquainted with my candy thermometer for this one!

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  10. Genius post! Made me laugh and it really rings true! Your pralines look delish!

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  11. Candy making is not an easy task. But I know you will do better next time.

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  12. Sorry for your struggles with the pralines! Your comments about the ice cream cracks me up - my husband must know yours. We had to make a special trip to the store :-) Thanks for baking along with me!

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  13. Love your letter to candy! So awesome. You did an excellent job of saving the pralines, they look really good.

    I think I bought the same candy thermometer this week. It's the fourth one I've bought and I'm hoping it's "the one."

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  14. Your candy looks delicious, even with the struggle! Love your post! Very cute and funny =0)

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  15. loving this...but scared to make candy myself..

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