Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2      cups          sugar
     1/2  cup           light corn syrup
     1/2  cup           water
   2      cups          pecan halves
     1/4  cup           butter
   1      tablespoon    vanilla

Preparation:

Heat the sugar, syrup, water, and pecans in a heavy saucepan until the sugar is dissolved. Bring the mixture to the boil, stirring occasionally, until it reaches the soft ball stage (240F). Remove the saucepan from the heat and add butter and vanilla. Allow candy to cool. Whip until the mixture gradually changes to an opaque color and becomes creamy. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a buttered cookie sheet and allow to harden. Makes two dozen. From Nathalie Dupree's New Southern Cooking Nathalie Dupree writes, "Pralines are traditionally given as Christmas gifts. Their sweetness will linger in your mouth long after the candy is gone.