Florence Fabricants Praline Recipes

FLORENCE FABRICANT'S PRALINE

Steps:

• Oil a large foil-covered baking sheet, marble slab or similar smooth surface.
• Lightly toast the nuts under the broiler, in a toaster oven or in a heavy, ungreased skillet on top of the stove. Watch carefully so they do not become too dark. Set aside.
• Combine the sugar and water in a wide, heavy saucepan or skillet and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture turns gold, then stir in the nuts and continue cooking until the mixture becomes honey brown.
• Pour the mixture out onto the prepared work surface and using the cut side of the potato, spread it thinly and evenly on the surface. Allow to cool completely.
• When the praline has cooled it can be broken into pieces to use as candy. The pieces can be stored in an airtight container in a dry cupboard. Some or all the praline can be chopped or ground coarsely or finely to use as a dessert topping or as an ingredient in desserts such as ice cream or cake. It should also be kept in an airtight container in a dry cupboard.

PRALINE PEAR CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an eight-inch round cake pan but do not use one with a removable bottom.
• Toast the almonds until lightly browned under the broiler, in a toaster oven or in a heavy ungreased skillet on the top of the stove. Set aside.
• Swirl one-third cup of the sugar with the water in a heavy saucepan or skillet until the sugar dissolves. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture turns a uniform honey-brown color. Pour the caramel into the cake pan, tilting it so the caramel coats the bottom. Immediately scatter the almonds over the caramel.
• Peel and core the pears. Cut them into thin, uniform slices and arrange the slices, overlapping, in a pattern on top of the caramel and almonds.
• Cream the butter with one-half cup of sugar. Beat in the egg. Sift the flour and baking powder together and stir into the batter. Add the almond extract.
• Spread the batter over the pears in the cakepan. There will be a thin layer of batter. A spatula moistened in cold water will make spreading it easier.
• Place in preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, allow to cool for a minute or two, run a knife around the edge, then unmold onto a serving dish. If any of the topping clings to the pan, lift it off and replace it on the cake. Serve the cake while still warm with whipped cream.