Pralines

This recipe makes about thirty 2-inch pralines.. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a large piece of foil with butter. Set aside. Spread nuts on a baking sheet and roast until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. If using almonds too, put them on a baking sheet near the oven door so that you can watch them. When the nuts are hot, stir in 2 tablespoons butter and sprinkle with salt. Set aside. In a heavy medium saucepan, stir together well and boil the brown sugar, granulated sugar, evaporated milk, 2 tablespoons butter, and roasted nuts until mixture reaches the soft-ball stage (236 degrees F). Let stand, undisturbed, for 4 minutes to cool. Add vanilla. Then start beating with a large wooden spoon. The second you feel the mixture begin to thicken, start spooning up the candies. Spoon heaped-tablespoon-size pralines as fast as possible onto the buttered foil. Let stand to cool and set. Store in an airtight container. NOTE: If you want to make a double batch, add a tablespoon or corn syrup to the ingredients. This will slow crystallization just enough to allow you to spoon the larger batch.