Ruby's Opera Creams!

  
 
This recipe for "Opera Creams" is my late mother in law's recipe and undoubtedly, my favorite homemade Christmas candy.  I have not had this candy in over twenty years.   My sweet mother in law passed away very unexpectedly over 20 years ago and she was the only person I knew who made this candy.  No one in my family and friends had even ever heard of it and to this day, I don't know where she originally got it.  I never thought to get  her recipe for it and after she passed, I looked high and low for a recipe that might come close to it.  My mother thought she had a recipe so she made it and bless her heart, it wasn't even close, but I didn't want to tell her that.   So, I eventually just gave up. 
 
When I started writing this food blog, I started asking all of my family and friends for recipes for the things they make that are really good, so I got with my sister in law about a lot of her recipes, because she is a fantastic cook.   I mentioned how I wish I had gotten the Opera Creams recipe and she told me she had all of her mother's recipe files and books with her handwritten recipes in them and that she did, indeed, have the Opera Creams recipe. 
 
 I don't know why I had never thought to ask her before. She did warn me that she had tried to make them and they never did taste as good as they had when her mother made them.  So I got the recipe and gave it a whirl.  My husband says they turned out just like his mothers, although for me, none will taste just like hers did,  but they brought back good memories of her for both of us.  I even found the little candy dish she always kept them in after she made them.  Food is so important in our lives and brings back such memories of those who made it for us.  If we keep the food and the recipes alive, we keep part of those folks alive for us to remember always. 
 
 
Ingredients:
 
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
2 Tbs. light corn syrup
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chopped walnuts
 
 Place sugar, cream, milk, corn syrup and salt in a heavy saucepan.  Cook over low heat until it comes to boil, stirring frequently.  Cook until it reaches the soft ball stage on a candy thermometer or around 240 degrees, stirring constantly.  This takes some time to reach so be patient.  When it reaches the soft ball stage, remove from heat and stir in vanilla and the 2 cups of chopped nuts.  Pour into a buttered 8"x8" dish.   Allow to cool completely and set up before cutting into 1 inch squares.   This candy actually improves with age.
 

 



17 comments:

  1. I wish I had my aunts recipe for a cake she made all nuts no flour, I didn't like it when I was a kid, but as a adult, the bomb, no one in our family has it..I have all her cookbooks, but darn if i can find it..

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    1. If you will go to the internet and put in "cake - all nuts and no flour" you will get all kinds of recipes.

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    2. Kathy, I want to try then just from the story alone!

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  2. What would you think about adding a chocolate coating?

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  3. This commentary reminded me of my mother-in-laws applesauce pie-never had before or since a pie like that. My mother-in-law has been gone for 27 years come this next July. An applesauce pie would be sitting on my stove when I got home from work. Flaky thin crust with perfected spices. Lord I miss pies but I miss her more.

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    1. My Mom made a apple pie that we all call a " flat apple pie".She made her own applesauce every year and made thin pie crust and thin pies.All my children loved it when she would make one for each of them.whenever we have a get together, someone says,I wish we had one of Nanny's pies.I will try to make one for Christmas this year.

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  4. I can't wait to try this!! Sounds oh-so-good!

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    1. Getting ready to go to the store to get rest of things I need to make this. sounds so good.

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  5. It appears to be our Texas Pralines but we make them only with Pecans.

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  6. That is such a wonderful story, and GREAT memories. have not tried the recipe yet, but it looks good :).. So glad you found the recipe.. GOD BLESS..I can Imagine the feelings that went through you when you found it. Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks for your Sweet Tea and Cornbread page on FB, You bring ALOT of people fond memories of their past and New memories as they make them their own, when they tell of the recipes, they tell of you and your page. LOVE IT, keep the recipes and the stories coming. :)

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  7. I cannot wait to try these. You had me at nuts and cream!

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  8. What a treasure and I do agree ~ having our loved ones recipes keeps them alive to share with new generations. Thank you for sharing and I do plan to give this recipe a try! Merry Christmas from South Mississippi~!

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  9. I have had these (or something very close). They were so good, I had to ask for a moment of silence while I finished my bite! lol
    Kerry

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  10. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe and your family memories. I've been "baking" memories with our two Granddaughters ages 10 and 12 for the past few years. They love helping me in the kitchen...it is very special time spent with them, individually. I made two of my late mother-in-laws recipes for Thanksgiving...her wonderful chocolate pie and cornbread dressing. Fond memories and they were both D'lish!! Merry Christmas from Oklahoma, sweet tea and cornbread country! :)

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  11. cant wait to try opera cream

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  12. These sound wonderful! My mother's name is also Ruby so I'm definitely going to make them.

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  13. This sounds so yummy. My granddaughters and I are having fun with your recipes. Thanks so much.

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