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Richard´s Potatoes

Encarnacion´s Leche Quemada Candy

Makes about 40 candies

Submitted by Roger Mendoza
"I found scraps of paper that listed the ingredients for this candy on Papa Chonito's notes, but not the entire recipe. But, after research I was able to piece together and test out the recipe. Also, Aunt Margarita (Encarnacion´s daughter) told us (Minnie, Eddie, Richard, and I) how she used to make it. It can be found in the movie section of this web site. Also, after making the recipe with Enrique Jr. (Henry), and Irma we made small refinements to the recipe. Finally, taste testing with Henry, Irma, and Minnie confirmed that the candies tasted similar to Encarnacion´s." -- Roger


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Ingredients

2 cups Sugar
6 cups Milk
1 tsp Vanilla
1/8 tsp Baking Soda (if darker candy desired)
24 to 30 Pecan halves

Pans & Tools

1 6 to 8 quart Sauce Pan
1 Wooden or Heatproof, Non-metal Spatula
1 Cake pan or deep dish (9”x13”)
    Wax paper

Directions

1. In sauce pan (at least 4 inches tall) combine sugar and milk.
2. Cook under low heat, stirring slowly with a wooden spatula (or non-metallic spatula) until all of the sugar is dissolved.
3. Continue cooking (under low heat), stirring often to keep mixture moving, especially along the bottom and side of the pan.
4. At about the one-hour mark, the mixture will continue to darken and bubbling will increase. Continue to scrape the bottom and sides. Add Vanilla.
5. Continue to cook until the mixture thickens enough that after scraping the bottom, you can see the pan and it takes about 5 seconds to come together. This should be after about 20 minutes from the previous step.
6. In a cup of cool water, drop a dime size of mixture. If the candy retains its shape and does not dissolve into the water, then continue to the next step. Otherwise, continue to scrape the bottom and sides and repeat this step.
7. Once the dime-size mixture retains its shape in the water, then quickly turn off the heat and vigorously stir for about 10 minutes.
8. Scoop (or pour) the mixture into a wax-paper lined cake pan
9. Use spatula to flatten to about 1/4 to 1/2 inch
10. Put a half pecan evenly spaced on top and cut into small rectangles.