Buttermilk Pecan Pralines

[ShirleyC]

Buttermilk Pecan Pralines (My mom got this recipe from an Ann Landers column in the newspaper many years ago.)
2 c. sugar
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp butter
2 c. pecans (pieces or halves)

Combine first 3 ingredients in a saucepan. Stir until mixed. Put over medium heat and let it cook until it bubbles up. Stir constantly until it turns brownish (more like a caramel color) in color and reaches the soft ball stage. After it turns brown, it will start cooking down in the pot. It take a few minutes to reach soft ball stage.
Then remove from heat and add the last 3 ingredients. Beat until it becomes glossy. Actually I think it looks more frosty in color. I cook and beat it with a wooden spoon, and then I drop it with a regular tablespoon. I drop them onto wax paper. They harden pretty fast!

I have never had this recipe to fail. I made some during a storm yesterday, and they were perfect.