Emerils Crunchy Pralines Recipes

EMERIL'S CRUNCHY PRALINES

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, butter, and water in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
• Continue to stir for 3 to 4 minutes; the mixture will begin to boil.
• Add the pecans and continue to stir for about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat.
• Drop by the spoonful onto wax paper.
• Let cool.
• Remove from the paper with a thin knife.
• NOTE: Pralines may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 weeks.

EMERIL'S HOMEMADE SWEET AND SPICY PICKLES

Steps:

• Place cucumbers, onions, pickling salt, and water in a large, non-reactive bowl. Cover and allow cucumbers to soak for 2 hours. Drain the water from the onions and cucumbers through a colander and rinse well for 5 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
• Combine the vinegars, sugar, mustard seeds, turmeric, cloves, garlic, and peppers in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and add the cucumbers and onions. Bring to a simmer and remove the saucepan from the heat.
• Fill each of the hot sterilized pint-size preserving jars with the pickle mixture, dividing them evenly, and enough of the liquid to come within 1/2-inch of the top. Add 1/2 teaspoon of Natural Pickle Crisp to each jar, if desired. With a clean damp towel, wipe the rim and fit with a hot lid. Screw on the metal ring just until the point of resistance is met. Process the jars in a hot-water bath for 15 minutes.
• Using tongs, remove the jars, place on a towel, and let cool. Test the seals by allowing the jars to stand at room temperature overnight or until the lids pop. Tighten the rings and store in a cool dry place. Let the pickles age for at least 2 weeks before using.

PRALINES

Steps:

• In a saucepan heat sugar and corn syrup over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Boil until golden-brown and caramelized, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove pan from heat and carefully pour in cream. Mixture will bubble up. Stir in pecans until well-coated. Use a spoon to drop 2-inch rounds onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Let harden before serving.

PRALINE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter 2 (9 by 5 by 3-inch) loaf pans, using the heaping tablespoon of the butter.
• Cream the remaining butter and the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer on low speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula.
• In a separate mixing bowl, beat together the egg yolks with the vanilla until light and frothy. With the electric mixer on medium-low, gradually add the egg yolk mixture to the butter and sugar mixture and mix for about 4 minutes.
• In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. With the electric mixer on medium speed, alternately add the flour mixture, a third at a time, and the egg whites, a third at a time, to the butter and egg mixture, beating for 2 minutes between each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as you mix. Add the lemon zest during the last 2 minutes of mixing.
• Divide the batter equally between the pans. To 1 of the cakes, add the crumbled pralines and the rum to the batter and gently stir to mix evenly; leave the other plain. Bake the plain cake for about 1 hour, the praline cake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Both should be golden when done and firm to the touch.
• The cakes can be stored by wrapping them in waxed paper, then plastic wrap, then in foil. They do not need to be refrigerated.
• In a heavy saucepan, over medium heat, combine the sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt and condensed milk. With a wooden spoon, stir until the sugar dissolves. Continue to cook, stirring, until smooth and light brown, about 8 minutes. Add the vanilla and pecans and continue to cook, stirring, until the mixture reaches 234 to 240 degrees F. on a candy thermometer or the soft ball stage, that is, when a bit dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens. Remove from the heat and drop by the spoonful onto waxed paper. Let cool. Remove from the paper with a thin knife.

CREAMY PECAN PRALINES

Steps:

• Mix light brown sugar, granulated sugar, heavy cream, butter, water and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until sugar dissolves. Stir in pecans and cook over medium heat until mixture reaches the soft ball stage, 238 to 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. If you spoon a drop of boiling syrup into a cup of ice water, it will form a soft ball that flattens easily between your fingers.
• Remove pan from heat and stir rapidly until mixture thickens. Drop pralines by the spoonfuls, 1-inch apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Let cool completely until firm. Store in an airtight container.

LOUISIANA CARAMEL PRALINES

Steps:

• Place 2 cups sugar & milk in a lrg saucepan. Cook slowly, stirring often.
• At the same time, put other cup of sugar in a 2nd saucepan on low heat & stir till melted.
• Pour 2nd mixture slowly into the sugar & milk that should be read to boil & stir while adding.
• Cook slowly till a firm ball forms when dropped into cold water (238°) & remove from heat.
• Add vanilla, pecans & butter. Stir till mixture begins to thicken.
• To avoid sticking as experienced by the 1st reviewer using waxed paper which was given as an option -- drop by spoonfuls in desired size onto a lightly sprayed baking sheet or buttered cookie sheet (candies should set up immediately).

EMERIL'S CREAMY PRALINES

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, over medium heat, combine the sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt and condensed milk.
• With a wooden spoon, stir until the sugar dissolves.
• Continue to cook, stirring, until smooth and light brown, about 8 minutes.
• Add the vanilla and pecans and continue to cook, stirring, until the mixture reaches 234 to 240 degrees F. on a candy thermometer or the soft ball stage, that is, when a bit dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens. Remove from the heat and drop by the spoonful onto waxed paper.
• Let cool.
• Remove from the paper with a thin knife.

EMERIL'S LYONNAISE POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400º F.
• Place the potatoes in a pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and drain.
• Heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onions and season with salt and pepper.
• Cook, stirring, until the onions are caramelized, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer the onions to a bowl.
• Place the pan back on the stove and melt the stick of butter.
• When the butter has melted, cover the bottom of the pan with 1/3 of the potatoes.
• Cover the first layer of potatoes with 1/2 of the onions.
• Cover the onions with 1/3 of the potatoes.
• Repeat the layering until all of the potatoes and onions are used.
• Place the pan in the oven and cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown.
• Remove the pan from the oven.
• Using a spatula, gently lift the potatoes out of the pan.
• Slice the lyonnaise into 12 slices. Garnish with parsley.