Julie's pralines were so sinfully awesome, I had to try making them. Now, I'm not a candy maker, in fact my only foray into candy making has been my Gram's super easy peanut butter fudge (and this recipe is the only reason I have a candy thermometer). I've managed to not screw them up each time I've made them, with the exception of the very first time I tried, which was prior to obtaining a candy thermometer - so I ultimately overcooked the syrup - because I was relying on the water test.

Well, my pralines didn't come out so well. They sure smell and taste good, but the texture... (see below)

So I'm thinking my candy thermometer is no longer reliable, and this is a huge bummer since its not a cheap one! I definitely cooked to the right temp according to the reading on the thermometer, but they are sloppy caramel, unwilling to set.
Any idea if these can be saved? I thought about greasing up my fingers making them into balls and rolling them in finely chopped pecans. Good or bad, whats your thoughts? I hate to just toss them, but they cannot be stored this way.

Update: Its now after 1AM, but I think I successfully re-batched them! After much googling about saving botched batches of candy, I plopped the glop in a pot, added one cup of water, and re-cooked, this time going to 242 degrees (a tad over since I don't trust the thermometer) Added more vanilla and baking soda, stirred stirred stirred and dropped them on a sheet of freezer paper. I give full credit to my Pampered Chef spatula for being able to do this. I greased that baby up and just scraped the glop.. easy peasy!
They're much darker than they originally were from the additional cooking, but they didn't slop all over the place and actually resemble pralines now rather than cowpies! Oh and they pass the taste test too!

Now, I either need to remember to cook a few degrees above the temperatures called for in recipes (which can be risky) or buy a new thermometer.

Now THIS is holiday spirit (which I seem to be finally getting) ... I rescued pralines! How cool is that?

Around a year ago on this day..

• Oh the weather outside is frightful - 2007
• The CNN story that pushed me over the edge - 2005