New Orleans Pralines

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 Tbsp butter (1½ tsp)
• 4 cups pecan halves

Directions

1. Put sugar, water, and butter to boil until syrup makes a soft ball when dropped in a cup of cold water.
2. Put pecans in, cook until syrup forms a hard ball in a cup of cold water.
3. Have ready a large platter, wax paper, or marble greased with butter. Drop a large spoonful of the mixture about 2 inches apart; let cool.
4. When hard and cold, run a knife (or small spatula) under each praline and put on plate. You have to work fast — the last few will be "sugary," but they are good, too.