1 1/2 Sticks
unsalted butter
1 c Sugar
1 c Packed, light brown sugar
1 c Milk
1/2 c Heavy cream
1 c Coarsely chopped pecans
2 c Whole pecan halves
2 tb Vanilla extract
1 1/2 c Semisweet chocolate chips
NOTE:
Chocolate chips should be chilled. Assemble all the ingredients and
utensils before starting to cook. (Measure out the chocolate chips and
keep them refrigerated until just before needed.) You will need a
large, heavy-bottomed aluminum pot or skillet with deep sides, a
long-handled metal whisk or spoon, 2 large spoons (or an ice cream
scoop with a manual release) and a very lightly greased cookie sheet.
Melt the butter
in the pot over high heat; add the sugars, milk, cream and chopped
pecans. cook 5 minutes, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to medium,
and continue cooking and whisking 10 minutes.
Add the pecan halves and continue whisking and cooking until done,
about 8 to 10 minutes. (If the mixture smokes excessively toward end
of cooking time, lower the heat.)
Stir in vanilla. then immediately drop about 1/4 cup of chocolate
chips into about one-sixth of the batter. Stir quickly and just enough
to cover some of the chips with batter but not enough to allow the
chips to melt.
Quickly drop the chocolate mixture onto the cookie sheet by heaping
spoonfuls, using the second spoon to push the batter off the first (or
use ice cream scoop); each praline should be about 2 inches in
diameter and 1/2 inch thick.
Repeat with remaining mixture, stirring briefly before adding more
chocolate chips. The cooled pralines should be light brown, opaque,
somewhat chunky and crumbly.