Katie'S Pecan Pralines - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 c. sugar
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. soda
1/8 tsp. salt
2 1/2 c. pecan pieces
2 Tbsp. butter
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preparation

Cook the first 4 ingredients at high temperature for 5 minutes.
(You'll need a very large pot as the soda makes the mixture boil very high.)
Add the pecan pieces and the butter. Continue cooking and lower temperature to medium-high and stir often.
Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pot often.
Cook until soft ball stage.
Drop some of mixture into a cup of cold water and test with finger to see if it has hardened.
When this occurs, remove from fire and add 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
Then begin stirring until it is ready to drop by spoonful onto wax paper.
Check sides of pot by touching to see if mixture has semi-hardened and also mixture has thickened.