Good morning all. I missed posting yesterday but I did pop in and see what was new.

Alida: No....painting isn't finished. It's a big room and I'm just taking it wall by wall. The feature wall has 2 coats of paint and is finished. Two other walls got the first coat last night. I had intended to do the second coat also cause it dries so fast, but my arms were just too sore. Tonight....no painting. It's my tv night and I deserve it. Sunday will be my day to finish the painting. As far as driving in the snow, I just put it in 4 wheel drive, hold my breath and go! lol We don't have buses here so I don't have the option of leaving my car home. This weekend will be my pampering weekend with the in-laws. Can't wait. They always make me feel so welcome. I also agree about keeping the sweater. I have 3 sweaters exactly the same but different colours and love each one. Can't have too much of a good thing sometimes.

Shelley: I'd get that picture blown up and put it in a prominant place in the living room. It's just adorable. What a good looking grandson you have. Brenda is right....wish I had cheekbones like you do.

Barb: Are you sure you're dh isn't related to mine? lol Leaving the shovel in the snow is something that might happen at my house. No wait...that's just silly....to have the shovel left in the snow he'd have to use it and that just wouldn't happen. I'm sure the shovel has my name engraved on it. lol

Brenda: How was that massage? Ohhh, I'm so envious especially with my sore shoulders and neck from painting. What do your furkids think of the snow? One of mine won't go outside...get her feet wet, not on your life. The other one things she is a Husky and lays in it for a nap.

Ilse: Sounds like your getting things ready for Christmas nicely. Wish I was as organized as you.

With the feature wall having the second coat of paint done and dried, I actually got dh to put up the new curtain rod last night. We have curtains in the dining room now! Wooppee. After having a stick poked into the window with a tablecloth hung on it for 3 months, this is a major thing in my house.

Better get to work....invoice day. Have a great one everyone and watch the snow driving.

__________________
Donna
238.5/173.4/150
I will see my goal weight again

Thanks everyone . . . I'll keep the sweater for DDIL.

Ilse: That purple sweater is available from petites to 3X! Get it here for $59:

http://www.coldwatercreek.com/aspx/p...sembleId=27272

It's cotton and washable

Donna: Tonight is SURVIVOR! I understand the final episode is this Sunday. Ack. Mark's Ordination is at 4. We'll set the recorder just in case, but hopefully we'll be home by 7.

Please be careful of your wrists/hands/back! You don't want to be in pain for Christmas, do you? My kitchen still has no paint. Sits there with mud patches and paint samples. Not going to worry about it. Anyone who walks in knows it's a work in progress!

You re lucky you have a 4WD. With one of those, that's about all you need to do, LOL!

Your mention of one of your dogs thinking he's a Husky made me think of my dog. He looked like a Lab but was part Lab, party Husky. He loved the snow! He would pull my son's sled down the street. And he loved playing with soft snowballs. The retriever part brought the paper in every morning. On Sundays, he tried so hard to bring that one in. But it was so big sometimes all he could do was drag it to the door. It was his "job" and he loved it. Towards the end of his life, we even had him trained to take a basket to someone. I would put something in a basket, give it to Roscoe and tell him to "Take to Paul." He loved that game, too.



Where is everyone? Hope it's good whatever you are all doing!

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Hi Gang!

We went in to Dd3's museum in Pasadena today. What a great day. Had lunch with her. Bless her heart! She has gained quite a lot of weight. I kept my lips sealed. She has never been overweight. I know she must be unhappy with it. But, we haven't talked about it at length yet. I should say, she hasn't mentioned it to me seriously yet. She gave us a tour of the museum, and introduced us to folks. It was great. The Museum is in the Rose Bowl parking Lot. It was fun to see a couple of the floats being built for the parade on Jan 2.

We've been home for a couple of hours and I have been reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes. I'm going to finish it any day now. I bought "Live Bait" yesterday along with the third in the Garden Trilogy by Norah Roberts.

By all means, ditto to Barb on the sweater, Alida. I have a couple of styles from CC that I have bought in different colors.

LOL, at your DH Barb for burying the shovel. Sounds like home.

It wa a little cloudier today, though mountains still clear and crisply out. Could almost see the trees! Sorry to gloat, but I am continually amazed by this weather!

We've decided that we are not apartment people. The kitchen here is not big enough for ONE much less for TWO. We call it a 1/2 butt kitchen (unlike a one or two butt kitchen).

Bf coming for dinner tonight. We are having enchiladas. Yay!

Back tomorrow.
Pace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
65 years young

Hey everyone, good to see you all. Barb and Alida "your" snow started about 3pm today. No end in sight, but I don't think we'll get as much as you. Barb, good move to have someone give you a lift!

Alida, the pralines sounds yummy And as far as getting to work in bad weather, my experience is that it depends on the company and the manager how much leeway I felt I could take. Most of the time I tried to leave early enough to make it. I've also had jobs where I felt comfortable calling in to say I'd be late, but would be there as soon as conditions permitted.

I second (or third) the opinion of giving the sweater to your DIL.....I would love to have versions of some of my favorites!

Donna, my two furkids have differing opinions on snow, too. Token is a little antelope, bounding all all through the snow and coming back inside a happy popsicle. Khaki--well, I have to shovel snow off the grass to make an acceptable potty place. She hates cold wet toes! Of course, she's older and gets cold more quickly. When it's deep, I shovel "zoomies" all over the yard--a maze of trails for them to run, play, and do their doggie business
(Alida, Roscoe must have been one great dog. I know you still miss him.) AND! congrats on having curtains! Sometimes little things like that make such a huge diffference in how I feel about a project, too.

Alida, glad you are enjoying the addition of some oat bran--does make a difference, doesn't it? I also tried 1/4 oat bran and 1/4 almond meal in the last batch. Really good, but too many calories for regular use. Like Barb, I have to watch those totals....

Alida, Barb, Donna, that shovel story made me laugh. Before DH went to FLA last week, he told me I was "all set" in case it snowed. Ok, It snowed, and how was I "all set?" He'd moved the gigundo walk-behind snowblower into the garage--you know, the kind you have to be a gorilla to maneuver. I can't start it, much less use it......Shovels, salt? Ahhhhh....those were still safely locked in the shed about 100 feet from the house.

Ilse, that's very nice of you you gas up your SIL's car in return for his work, and I know it's very appreciated.

Well, the massage turned out to be more "bodywork" than massage. While it was deeply relaxing, it was also emotionally draining. Intuitively, though, I think it was what I needed, especially because today had some tense moments, to say the least. This afternoon I realized I must have lost or misplaced my debit card some time this week, and after much searching and anxiety got that all taken care of with the bank. Well, that left me with about one operational nerve. Soooo.....with the cold weather (and needing some comfort chili after the debit card mess) I then decided to try out the new high tech electronic slow cooker (really a Christmas present, but DH isn't here to catch me, LOL) and naturally, it didn't work :crying: Spent an hour trying to figure out how to get all the parts and pieces back into the box and arranging for a return. ARGH! Fortunately, it will all be funny by tomorrow.

Well, I have a sock calling my name. Wailing, actually. I've redone the heel about 3 times already, and it still sucks. One mo' time. See you all later.

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Peg! Hey, girlfriend, we were posting at the same time, I think!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Let's see if I can get this to work. The little one in the back that's waving would be my little Micayla. She was an evil flower in the Wizard of Oz.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Donna
238.5/173.4/150
I will see my goal weight again

AWwwwwww! What a bunch of cuties! This picture is a classic. Thanks for posting it for us, Donna.

Brenda, maybe it was a good thing you had the bodywork first. Sounds like you've had more than your share of frustrations adding up. Hope it all smooths out soon. I've only had two massages. The first time, I thought my brain had turned to mush. I wasn't prepared for the feeling of total ditziness. Not unpleasant, but not good for driving.

I've actually cooked dinner two nights this week. In DH's pantry stash, I found a packet of almondine seasoning and some slivered almonds, so I used that to make a butter sauce for the fresh salmon I bought at Costco. Delicious! DH feels like I've given him a present. A kitchen vacation. I have to say that, while I'm totally spoiled in the culinary dept., I do sometimes miss cooking. And I think DH makes much more of a fuss--and mess--about it than is totally necessary. But this has been going on for years, so I'm not about to fix what ain't broken. I may sneak in a few ingredients for future "vacations."

BTW, in my excursion through DANDR, I've noticed how often he slips in little caveats that don't seem to be part of the "original" plan. I'll try to find you some quotes. But one of them says, You can't have all the high-fat foods you want, and go easy on those fancy dessert recipes. We've already figured that out, haven't we?

Good decision on the sweater, Alida. I have a dear friend whose "hobby" is clothing. She buys everything in multiples: shoes, sweaters, accessories. One in every color. When she cleans out her closet, I get the extras. Not a bad deal. I have to be careful though. Her fashion sense is not exactly mine, and I need to incorporate her stuff in my wardrobe without actually looking like her.

Bren--just like a man to need a major appliance for a minor job. Who was the comedienne who said that if they made a machine you could ride, men would vacuum?

Off to work--or whatever it is I do all day.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Barb.......... thanks for the tidbits from DANDR. I plan to get to it when we get out for break.

TGIF!!! Exams start next week. There is only one more day of regular classes, and of course I am giving tests so I still have grading to complete.

Keep the fire going.......it's cold here in Texas, and I want a warm place to come home to when I finally catch up with my real life again.

__________________
Judy
Goal = <135, Current status = RIGHT ON TARGET!
Never give up. Never never never never give up -- Winston Churchill

Good morning!

Donna, the picture of Micayla is darling! The costumes are delightful! You mentioned in in earlier post that she kept all the little flowers "in line." She must be a "take charge" type of girl. You must be so proud of her!

Re: Survivor -- I am just amazed at how stupid Cindy was. But then, I might have kept the car, too. One never knows what you would really do in that situation. Gotta be there. But I also think Steph was right when she said Dani was the biggest threat. She should have stuck to her guns on that instead of caving in to Rafe's suggestion of voting Cindy off. Looks like Rafe and Danni have a pretty strong alliance. I fear Steph will be the next to go. Yeah, I still like her. And the little fishmonger is still there!! Yanno, it wouldn't surprise me if she won the whole thing!

Is anyone watching "The Apprentice?" If so . . . I am wondering if Joe Piscopo's cancellation is a pre-planned thing, just to throw a monkeywrench into that team's plan . . . .

Peg, so good to hear from you! I am so glad your visit to the museum went well. I know you are proud of her. As for her gaining weight, that's such a touchy subject. I am wondering if at Christmas, you can just casually mention the success you have with low carb. Or a little fib on how you may do Induction in January . . . just something to let her know she would have your support and help if she decides to go low carb. Leaving DANDR on the coffee table might be a tad heavy-handed, though!

Brenda: Zoomies? :great: What a great idea! You really are a great Mom. I had to laugh at your snowblower story! I can just picture you trying to handle that.

Speaking of the Pralines . . . yesterday I made a low carb recipe called Pecan Blondies. Very long story short, I used too-small pan. The middle was still uncooked, even after adding 15 minutes of bake time. So I removed the edges and the top and put the middle back in the oven. Whole thing ended up as little broken crunchy and chewy pieces of heaven. Bob loves them! Said it was the best mistake I ever made, LOL. And the taste is reminiscent of those Lacy Butterscotch cookies you roll up on a clothespin -- if anyone remembers those.

OMG! I know the sinking feeling you must have had when you realized you lost your debit card. The frantic search . . . . that would have left me frazzled, too, in search of some comfort food. Hi Tech slow cooker? You mean more high tech than the programmable Crock Pot? And wondering how they get all the parts in the box? Been there, done that, too!

Whew! you had a rough day yesterday. I hope "third time's the charm" with that pesky sock heel.

Well, the guy who was coming yesterday to talk over the business did call to re-schedule. But he lives in Leavenworth and that's where I'll be on Tuesday. So he may stop in and have a look. Hmm. I gotta make this job look like FUN.

Finishing up a job at KC Steak today. That's the job where I hung film in a meat-cooler. It's about 6 degrees now but by 1pm it will be 30. Warm enough to hang film. Plus it's going to be a glorious sunny day. That will help. Tomorrow in the 40's!!! Best thing is I'll walk out with a check.

Have a great day!

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Posting just behind Barb and Judy . . .

Judy, that's right, it IS Friday! So, is next week your last week (exams and grading)? The fire is very bright here for all! Sorta gives one the warm fuzzies.

Barb, how nice to have a friend to give you extras when she cleans out her closet! What's her name? Maybe I'll give her a call!

As for going easy on the high calorie desserts . . . we DO know that! Especially critical for maintenance, when our smaller bodies require fewer calories . . . or more exercise. Oh, I forgot . . . are you reading the old Dr. A or the new one? I've got to get that book out and put it on my nightstand . . . .

So you DO cook, LOL! I am spoiled that way, too. Bob does the nightly meals. I find I miss cooking too, but not enough to take it over. I'll stay with the Holiday Meals . . . .

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Good morning!

We had snow yesterday! We are still reaping the consequences of the snow. I think our neck of the woods got 6-8 inches. It took me almost two hours to get home. (I left work at 3:30). It would have been much longer, but I took back roads that traveled better than the primary roads. When I got to the final two roads, the one I had to travel longest on was a parking lot(0-5 miles per hour, up to 15 MPH once). The last one had several cars in the ditches.

My DH chose to stay at work until almost 9:20. It took him over an hour to get home, but part of that was being detoured off the main road.

I had dozed off in front of the TV. I woke up when they had a news flash about the plane crash at Midway airport. I realized my doggy needed to be walked. The snow was pretty deep. My DH drives a sports car. It doesn't do well in the snow. I thought he would have better control getting into the garage if the driveway was cleared. I shoveled for an hour, I think. (I think this was where the swimming had paid off)

No errands last night, none this morning (just got to work in time). I hope we will see Narnia tonight.

Well, take care!

__________________
Ilse

380 (Highest)/318(9-11-08)/230.2(current)/154
5'6"
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney

I'm so proud of myself for posting that picture. lol Only took me 45 minutes and about a dozen scans before I finally got it right. It's not even the whole picture....I covered half of it so it wouldn't be so big. But, I did want you guys to see it.

My dh left work early yesterday. In a town this small, I knew about it as he was on his way home. I kept telling myself that if he was napping when I got home, he would be in "deep trouble". Guess I don't know him as well as I thought I did....he was busy painting the final wall when I got home. Normally, he doesn't paint cause the fumes just do him in. He had TB as a child and spent 3 years in hospital. But, this paint had very little fumes and he wanted to make sure there would be enough before we leave for town tonight so we can get more. The room is really coming together now. Sunday I'll do the final coat on the 3 walls and then cremate all the painting stuff. lol

Alida: I really thought Cindy would give everyone a car. That was a tough call...I'm not sure what I would have done. I guess it would depend on how secure I felt with the group. I also think Steph will be going soon. But, I think Rafe might take the whole thing. Danni is pretty strong too, but my money would be on Rafe. Watch Lydia sneak in and take it all.

Judy: You are really going to deserve a break from work at Christmas. Take some time for youself too!

Ilse: What a good wife you are cleaning the snow away for your dh. I bet he appreciated it when he got home. We haven't had any new snow for awhile, but it's so cold the stuff we got a few weeks ago still isn't gone. It's going to be a mucky mess when it finally warms up.

Barb: Thanks to you, I think I just might have found what I'm doing wrong. Too much high fat foods. The scale crept up to 156 this morning. That's now 6 pounds over goal. Last night I had an acid reflux attack which I haven't had in over a year. Today my stomach still feels terrible. Yesterday for lunch I had a sausage and cheese omelet and then sausages again for dinner. I haven't paid much attention at all to what's in the food I have been eating....just that they are on the allowed lists. Moderation....that's the word I've been forgetting. Thanks for the reminder. Maybe now I can get the scales to move down a little again.

Brenda: I can just picture your front yard looking somewhat like a corn maze. lol What we don't do for our furry friends. There has been an announcement on the news for the last couple of days that has just made me sick. There was an accident on the highway where a woman was parked on the side of the road and hit from a car from behind. Her car burst into flames and they couldn't get her out. She died. She had her dog in the car with her...a rotweiller great dane cross....and he managed to get out. But, now they can't find him. Her 2 daughters have been putting announcements on the radio hoping someone will find him and call them. Poor dog must be just about frozen, not to mention how scared he would be. Wish I lived closer to where the accident was and I'd go looking, but it was about an hour from here. Hope they find him.

__________________
Donna
238.5/173.4/150
I will see my goal weight again

Hi Gang!

Well, this morning is cold and cloudy. It rained last night. I really do FEEL (I'm serious) for all of you suffering through the snow. I DO know what that is like. (It's only been one Winter. THIS one!) Geez. I don't miss it one bit. But, I DO remember last year. We didn't see the ground for almost 6 months!

Brenda: How incredible that you would create a maze for your furkids! That's why I don't have dogs. I couldn't even create a maze for MYSELF. You are really a good Mom.

So, having trouble with a heel, are you? At the museum yesterday there was a woman who had set up her "knitting wares" at the boutique we visited. DD3 said that she would love one of the fancy scarves (that I made by the basketload last year). I said, "Oh honey, I'll make you one." Of course, I brought all my fancy threads with me, so I started it last night. Dang it! I dropped a stitch near the place I started. I've got about a foot done. It doesn't look good, but I went on with it last night as I watched The Apprentice. Now, I'm thinking that I should "tink" back to that dang row and start over.

I haven't had the car alone yet to go over to The Enchanted Unicorn. Hoping that I can do that soon. I am getting my hair colored and cut this afternoon for the first time. Yikes! Keep your fingers crossed.

Alida: Yeah, I have thought about dropping hints. All my kids are aware of the weight I have lost and how I did it. I suspect that if she wants help she will ask. Meanwhile, I'll keep a buttoned lip.

I hope your day goes well. Sounds as if you have jobs that keep you busy, but not frantic. Right?

Barb: I agree with you about cooking. My bf came last night for dinner and when we finished, she looked at me and said, "Girl, you have it easy." I do. There is no doubt about it. I love that DH cooks. So many times at dinner, I just don't feel like getting up to fix anything. If I were alone, I might not eve eat. That scares me a little. But, I do enjoy cooking once ina while. There are some very practical reasons why DH cooks that we don't talk about anymore. He wants things a certain way (control issues). I don't want to make it and issue anymore. So, I sit back and let him take over. It's all right.

Donna: What a CUTE dgd. Love the red hair. (I'm a redhead. Of course, it comes out of a bottle) You did good posting!

It sounds as if the room IS coming together. I'm so so glad that you came home to DH doing some of the work. Only fair, huh? I hope your brother comes through on the floor as promised.

Judy: Plenty of wood by the fire. It is only matched by the warmth of our presence. Your place is assured, fluffed and warmed for you. Come back when you can. It's lovely to see you POP in.

Rachel: You must be caught in a mad flurry of entertaining. Your place is here too, my dear. Come back and POP in too.

*************
I weighed myself this morning for the second time since we got here. I'm at 182 again. I had broken the 180 barrier a couple of months ago. I can do it again, but it will take some work. I'm eating as lc as I can in between holiday and family gatherings.

I've been watching my sweets cravings. They are HUGE! I saw a segment on the Today show last week that talked about sweets and carbo cravings being one of the big signs of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Remember we had a big talk about this last Winter? I'm just observing my cravings and trying to be aware of getting as much sun as I can in my retinas (Vitamin D) by walking outside. He also recommended exercise, and that needs to be next on my list. Wher we lived in SoCa last time I didn't have SAD. It didn't show up until we moved to Michigan. I wonder if my brain chemicals have shifted to accomodate the gray days, and I need to fee them with sun in order the countereffect the symptoms? Just speculating here.

Re: The Apprentice. I was so disappointed in Randall last night! The way they edited the program, it looks as though he will not be the winner. I was hoping that Donald would take both of them. We have DGD's choir concert next week, so I will miss the finale! Dang it.

I had a very difficult time sleeping last night. Restless, hot then cold. Finally got to sleep about 1:30. After I got up this morning, I ate my cereal, began to take my supplement, and promptly threw them up in the kitchen sink (TMI, I know, sorry.) My tummy is queasy now, and sore muscles from that. So, I'm just sitting around in my sweats. I think I just tweaked my gag reflex by taking too many supps in my mouth.

But, anyway. That about ends my stream of consciousness.....!

Have a good day, all!
Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
65 years young

Hi, all. I lost a long post last night when my computer just shut itself off while I was posting. It's done that a few times in recent weeks. I've been unable to complete a virus scan for the last many days. THe computer will just hum away scanning thousands of files, then it abruptly shuts down before completeing the scan. I'm worried that it's due to a virus. I've tried online scanners, too, and the same thing happens. Rats! I've contacted McAfee for help.

Anyway, this is a quickie hello for now. I've got to run out and do some errands, soon . Here's hoping I don't lose this posting before I go.

Shelley - have I ever mentioned that I love the way your eyes turn up at the outer corners? It gives you an elfin look that's very pretty. DGS looks adorable and very happy in the pictures. And his eyes are very similar to yours, the lucky duck!

Peg, good for you for not mentioning the weight gain. I know it's hard not to be frank with your children, but nobody wants to hear about weight control just before the holidays - it just adds another level of feelings of inadequacy at a time that's already when most of us really maxed out. After New Years is soon enough to bring it up (if at all). She may have more bandwidth for coping with diet/exercise changes after New Years. I hope that nausea isn't the beginnings of the stomach flu. DH says there's a lot going around at work (the country hospital, so of course). Potassium and sodium choloride really helped with the queasies when I was sick before thanksgiving. In my case, it was the form of saltines and gatorade, but there's probably a better LC way to implement that, LOL!

Oh, Alida - pralines!!! I have such fond memories of the pralines my grandma used to send at Christmas! No store bought praline ever came close to being as good as her homemade ones. Your friends and relatives are very lucky to have someone like you making such memorable goodies! Are they difficult or touchy to make? Maybe I could try your recipe for my gift baskets?

Donna, how cool is that? To come home and find DH painting instead of napping - ~and~ thinking ahead re: finding out if more paint is needed before you go to town. Enjoy your weekend being pampered by the inlaws (<grin> hmmm, I bet you spend half your time in the kichen baking for them!!</grin>). Did you cry when you watched your dgd in the Christmas play? I would have!. She looks ~so~ cute - what a great photo! Thanks for perservering to get it posted so we could see it.

Judy... boy, that was a ~really~ heartfelt TGIF there, wasn't it?!! I can imagine you are really in the thick of it with all the tests and grading coming up! Good luck - I hope it goes as smoothly as possible.

Brenda, it soundsl like yesterday was one thing after another! Especially with the ATM and the frustration of the ruined dinner, broken crockpot and repacking ordeals. Yes, massage can open up all kinds of physical and emotional feelings. I took classes in massage many years back, and I was the unofficial office massuse when I worked in marketing and IT. I was a database analyst, so had much less in the way of high pressure deadlines than the editors. Sometimes, when giving a neck/shoulder massage, I would feel waves and waves of heat pouring off of someone's shoulders and neck. I kind of miss doing those little massages - DH doesn't like being massaged (what a weirdo, really!)

Hey, Ilse - good idea about going to see Narnia tonight! The previews looked just awesome. I might ask DH to do the same thing tonight.

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

Here's the recipe Terry (along with my comments). This is a double recipe. Makes about 40 Pralines. You can easily halve this recipe for 20. BTW, this is the grainy sugary type Praline, not the chewy caramel kind. Not sure which kind your Grandma made!


PRALINES
DOUBLE RECIPE

Prepare area:
Cover table or counter with tea towels. (Do not do this on a GOOD table!)Cover towels with wax paper. Lightly salt the wax paper. Have a trivet handy by the wax paper to place hot pot when beating & spooning out pralines. Have pecans, butter and vanilla nearby to add to pot.

Also have on hand: small amount of hot or boiling water.

Use big pot (8 quart) . . . 4 quart if single recipe. Swipe the sides of the pot with some butter (not the butter called for in the recipe). This helps prevent sugar crystals from forming on the side of the pot if you splash alot while stirring. If you do see sugar crystals, you can wipe them down with a pastry brush dipped in hot water.

4 Cups sugar
1 ? cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups pecan halves
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 Tablespoons butter

Cook sugar, milk and soda to boiling, stirring constantly. Once mixture start to boil, insert candy thermometer. Stir less once mixture starts to boil. Mixture will froth up then subside. It will also change to a caramel color.
When thermometer reaches soft ball stage, remove from heat. Add butter, vanilla and pecans. Beat until soft and creamy but still hot and thin. (Not too long, about 60 to 70 strokes.) This is the hardest part of this recipe. See caution below.

Drop by Tablespoons onto waxed paper.

Let cool. Remove from waxed paper and store in a tightly sealed tin. Can freeze. If freeze, separate layers in tin with wax paper.

CAUTION:
If you beat too long, mixture will set up. If you don?t beat enough, mixture will be too thin. I?ll beat until starts to cloud up slightly (looks creamy instead of transparent). Start spooning out pralines. Once mixture starts to thicken, beat in boiling water, one tablespoon at a time, as necessary, to keep pralines thin enough to spoon out. Pralines should be thin enough to ?spread out.? But sometimes I just spoon out clumps. Delicious any way you do them.

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135