PREFACE
The publishers wish to call the attention of the little candy maker to the Appendix in this book.
The United States Food Administration, while it does not object to a moderate use of sugar in candy making, strongly advises that it be used sparingly in order that our soldiers and allies may be provided with this energy-giving food that they require.
Accordingly, a number of recipes requiring a small quantity of sugar, or eliminating it entirely, have been prepared under the direction of this able Administration, and the publishers, glad to co-operate in every way, take pleasure in incorporating these recipes and suggestions as an Appendix.
It should be noted, however, that the author has furnished, throughout the book, a number of recipes that conform in every way to the suggestions made by the Government.
CHAPTER I
COOL WEATHER CANDIES
Betsey Bobbitt was a little girl whose real name was Elizabeth, but who, whenever she had anything to tell, came rushing to her mother and bobbed about so much—just couldn't keep still—that she earned the name Betsey Bobbitt.
Now, the funny part about the nickname was that it was not always appropriate; it only fitted when she came bobbing in with "Oh, mother!" and back and forth she would bob, like—like—well, if you ever saw a restless tiger at the circus, or at the zoo, pace back and forth in his cage bobbing his head, you will know just how Betsey Bobbitt looked as she told her little story.
Like most little girls, Betsey Bobbitt would often run errands for the neighbors and nearly always they would insist upon giving Betsey Bobbitt a penny, saying: "Thank you, dear; now buy yourself a stick of candy."
Poor Betsey Bobbitt how she did wish she might buy the candy, because if there was anything Betsey Bobbitt liked it was candy; and poor, poor mother how she wished the neighbors would not be so kind, or rather unkind, for she had tried ever since Betsey Bobbitt first tasted candy to let her eat only those candies that were pure and wholesome!
It truly was hard, because while mother had carefully explained that "penny candies" were unsafe for little children to eat, on account of the cheap, impure materials used in the making, as well as the bright, dangerous colors used upon the outside, to make them look attractive, still Betsey Bobbitt could not understand why other little girls and boys were allowed to eat them.
Mother said she was sure the other mothers of little children did not realize how harmful they were, because if they did, they would never allow their little girls and boys to eat them.
So Betsey Bobbitt tried to feel that mother was right about it, but she couldn't quite forget those "sticks of candy."
One afternoon in early September, Betsey Bobbitt and several little schoolmates, on their way home from school, were very busily engaged in talking, and what do you think they were talking about? They were discussing what they wanted to do when they grew up.
At first Betsey Bobbitt was very quiet; this was most unusual, but she listened attentively to the plans of all the others. Just then they came to a candy shop in which was displayed a most tempting array of candies.
Like a flash Betsey Bobbitt made her decision, and when she said she wanted to be a teacher of "Domestic Science" the other little girls were so impressed that their own plans were forgotten; in fact some of them did not even know what "Domestic Science" meant and they were very eager to learn.
So Betsey Bobbitt explained as best she could, what she knew about it and how she ever came to think of such a future; she told them of her mother's friend who went to college to learn how to become a teacher of "Domestic Science," which included knowing how to cook just everything, the best of all being the most, oh! most delicious candies, and that was what she, Betsey Bobbitt, wanted to study.
The little girls were very much excited and looked first at the pretty candies wistfully and then at Betsey Bobbitt with awe as it seemed to them very wonderful for any one to be able to make such delicious candies.
Betsey Bobbitt herself was so enthused that she could not wait for the others, so with another hasty glance at the candies and a hurried goodbye to her friends she left them and ran all the way home to tell mother about her wonderful plan for the future.
Mother knew at once that something very special must have happened and as soon as Betsey could gain her breath it all came out.
When Betsey Bobbitt finished her story she received the happiest surprise of her short life, for mother, seeing how earnest and eager her little girl was over her new plan, had been thinking rapidly, and so when all had been told Betsey's mother laughed merrily at her little daughter and said: "Why wait until you are old enough to go to college? Wouldn't you like to begin to learn now?"
Do you wonder Betsey Bobbitt nearly fell off her chair, for when she really understood that mother was to teach her to make candy, she bobbed about all over the room, exclaiming: "Oh! mother, may I really and truly?" and, again: "Oh! mother, I don't think I'll even want to look at penny candy again!"
This pleased mother so much that she began at once to look up all the simple ways of making candy that she herself had learned when she was a little girl like Betsey, as well as many that had been given to her or that she had cut from favorite magazines and cook books.
When these recipes were all arranged, Betsey Bobbitt began her candy making, and a happy, busy winter and spring she had indeed.
Mother did not get any special outfit, but just let Betsey use the things she had in the house and which would generally be found in any ordinary home, some of which were as follows:—
Aluminum and agate saucepans, one, two and three quarts; a double boiler; two glass and one tin half-pint measuring cups (divided into quarters, thirds and halves); a set of spoons (measuring one tablespoon, one dessert spoon, one teaspoon, one half teaspoon and one fourth teaspoon); an old large steel knife that had become very flexible with constant use; scales; food-chopper; nut-cracker; corn-popper; a long handled wooden spoon; a small brush for buttering tins; a fine wire strainer for sifting confectioner's sugar; one large and one small egg-beater; and a pair of scissors kept specially for kitchen use.
Mother also wrote out the following rules for measuring and weighing and hung them up so that Betsey could find them easily. These Betsey found very helpful.
The hints for candy making that mother gave Betsey, and which she memorized, were as follows:—
First. To butter with a brush the inside of the saucepan from the top about two inches down, to prevent the candy from boiling over.
Second. To use fresh, cold water each time she tried the candy.
Third. Any candy that is to be beaten is better if allowed to cool a few minutes by standing the pan in cold water and if when beaten it looks like smooth thick cream before pouring in pans.
Fourth. To butter the hands well when pulling candies.
Fifth. That "soft ball," "hard ball," "thread," and "brittle" mean the different stages sugar reaches while cooking.
When a little syrup dropped in cold water can be easily worked between the thumb and finger, it is a "soft ball;" when it is firm and solid, it is a "hard ball;" when it drops from the spoon into a fine thread, it is called "thread;" and when it becomes so hard it will break, it is called "brittle."
Sixth. Never to stir hard candies (unless told to do so) after ingredients are well mixed and have reached the point where the syrup "threads."
Seventh. That uncooked foundation cream and fondant cream can be made into all sorts of candies.
Eighth. That pretty, harmless colorings may be made from the following: different shades of red and pink from the juice of raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, elderberries and cranberries; yellow from saffron; and green from spinach and beet leaves bruised and boiled in a very little water.
So Betsey followed every instruction carefully and these are the candies "Betsey Bobbitt" learned to make.
Betsey chose to make the hard candies first, and mother told her she had chosen well as the cool fall and cold winter weather were much better for these candies as they did not become so sticky and hard to handle as in warm weather. One thing in particular mother impressed upon Betsey's mind was this: it would be much easier to have all the materials and utensils, used in making the candy, ready, before the cooking began; and another equally important thing was to wash all the dishes and pans and leave everything tidy and in order when finished.
Butter Scotch No. 1
When Betsey put these all in the saucepan, she remembered to dip her brush in melted butter and brush the pan about two inches down from the top so that the candy would not boil over, then she let the syrup boil, without stirring, until a little which she dropped from the spoon formed a hard ball in cold water. It was then ready to pour (thinly) in buttered pans and mark, at once, in squares.
This was Betsey's favorite recipe for butter scotch although she found the following two recipes very nice.
Butter Scotch No. 2
Betsey put the sugar, corn syrup, vinegar and butter in the saucepan, then dipping her brush in melted butter she brushed the top of the saucepan two inches down, next she stirred the ingredients well together before putting the saucepan on the stove, because after the syrup began to cook it must not be stirred.
When it was boiling well Betsey tried a few drops in cold water every little while (each time remembering to use fresh water), and when it formed a hard ball she knew it was done.
The buttered pans were all ready and into these Betsey poured the candy (thinly) and marked it at once into squares.
Butter Scotch No. 3
After the molasses, sugar and butter were put into the saucepan and the saucepan had been well brushed two inches down from the top as mother instructed, Betsey let them cook until the syrup reached the hard ball stage when a little of it was dropped in cold water.
It was then time to add the flavoring and pour at once into the buttered pans, not forgetting to mark in squares.
Betsey found that butter scotch was much more tasty when thin, so that was why she buttered more than one pan and had it only a quarter of an inch thick.
Butter Taffy
Betsey put everything except the butter and vanilla into the saucepan and boiled these until the syrup formed a hard ball when a little was tried in cold water, then the butter and vanilla were added, and it was cooked three minutes more (Betsey counted up to one hundred and eighty) and poured into a large buttered pan.
Lemon Cream Candy
Betsey dissolved the sugar in the water and let it come to the boiling point, then she added the cream of tartar, which she first dissolved in one teaspoon of hot water, and when the candy was nearly done she put in the piece of butter.
When a little of the syrup dropped in cold water formed a hard ball it was then time to add the flavoring and pour in a buttered pan to cool.
While the candy was cooling Betsey greased her finger-tips well, and when the candy was cool enough to handle Betsey began to pull it; at first she found it very awkward but mother showed her just how to do it and before long Betsey could do it very nicely. This pulling, as mother explained, was very quick work. Then when the candy was white Betsey cut it into small pieces with the scissors.
Vanilla Cream Candy
The sugar and water were put into the saucepan and let come to the boiling point, then the cream of tartar was dissolved in one teaspoon of hot water and Betsey added it to the sugar and water. She let these cook, and just before they reached the hard ball stage, added the butter.
When the hard ball formed, by dropping a little of the syrup in cold water, the vanilla was added and the candy was poured in a buttered pan to cool.
In the meantime Betsey greased her finger-tips, and as soon as the candy was cool enough to handle she began to pull it. Betsey had to work quickly and as soon as the candy was white she cut it into small pieces.