Part 21 (1/2)

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932. +Wine Glaze.+-- Boil 1 cup sugar with cup water until it forms a thread between 2 fingers; remove it from fire, add 2 tablespoonfuls sherry or Madeira wine and stir for 1 or 2 minutes; then quickly pour it over the cake and let it stand in a dry place which is free from dust to harden.

933. +Boiled Cinnamon Glaze.+-- Boil 1 cup sugar with cup water and 1 teaspoonful powdered cinnamon until it forms a thread between 2 fingers; remove it from fire, stir for a few minutes and use at once.

934. +Chocolate Glaze.+-- Melt 2 tablespoonfuls grated chocolate in the oven and mix it with 2 tablespoonfuls sugar syrup; mix 1 cup sugar with 1 tablespoonful water, add the chocolate, set it over a slow fire to get lukewarm and use at once.

935. +Cinnamon Glaze.+-- Mix 1 cup sifted powdered sugar with 1 teaspoonful cinnamon, add 2 tablespoonfuls water, set it over a slow fire, stir until lukewarm and use at once.

936. +Cold Sugar Glaze.+-- Mix 1 cup sifted powdered sugar with 2 tablespoonfuls cold water and add 1 teaspoonful lemon or vanilla extract; spread glaze over the cake and set it for 1 or 2 minutes in a cool oven to obtain a glaze; then remove and set in a dry place which is free from dust to dry. NOTE.--Instead of water any kind of fruit juice syrup, wine, rum or Cognac may be used. If lemon juice is used take water, juice and a little grated rind. For orange use a little rum and 2 tablespoonfuls orange juice. For coffee use instead of water 2 spoonfuls strong coffee. For chocolate stir in 2 tablespoonfuls grated chocolate or cocoa the same way, or melt the chocolate in the oven and then add it to the sugar.

937. +Boiled Chocolate Glaze.+-- Place a small saucepan with pound sugar, pound grated chocolate and pint water over the fire and stir and boil till it forms a thread between 2 fingers; remove from fire and stir until a thin skin forms on top of glaze; then use it at once; spread it evenly all over the cake and set for a few minutes in a cool oven. If the glaze should become too cold before it is all used return it to the fire and repeat again. The glaze when done should s.h.i.+ne like a mirror.

938. +Transparent Glaze.+-- Boil 1 cup sugar with cup water until it forms a thread between 2 fingers; remove it from fire, stir for a few minutes and then quickly use; dip small pieces of cake into the glaze, pour over large pieces and spread it apart; let it dry in an airy room which is free from dust.

939. +Rose Glaze.+-- Boil 1 cup sugar with cup water till it forms a thread between 2 fingers; remove at once and add 2 tablespoonfuls rose water and a little prepared cochineal, to color it to a delicate pink; stir for a minute and then pour it over the cake.

Small cakes may be dipped into the glaze and set in a dry place which is free from dust to dry.

940. +Spinning Sugar.+-- Put pound loaf sugar in a small copper kettle, add sufficient cold water to half cover the sugar and stir until it is melted; then place the kettle over a strong fire and boil the sugar to a crack (the 6th grade); add a few drops vinegar, remove the kettle, dip it for a few minutes into cold water and let it cool off a little; if the sugar is spun when too hot the threads will be too thin and lumps will form; then place the kettle in a pan of hot water, or on the side of stove, to keep the sugar warm; take a large knife in the left hand and hold it out straight before you; take a silver spoon in the right hand, dip it into the sugar without touching the bottom of kettle and let some of the sugar run off from the spoon; then spin long threads back and forth over the knife from right to left; after a considerable amount of sugar is spun in this way take it from the knife, lay on clean paper and spin the rest in like manner; when all is spun form the sugar into pompoms, garlands, bouquets, etc. Half the sugar may be colored with cochineal to a delicate pink. The sugar should be spun in a place free from draughts and in clear and dry weather. This sugar is used for decorating and tr.i.m.m.i.n.g dishes.

941. +Boiling Sugar.+-- Put 1 pound sugar into a kettle with pint water and let it stand for a few minutes; then put it over the fire to boil; while the boiling is going on dip a small brush into cold water and wipe off the sides and edge of kettle; the different grades the sugar goes through in boiling are as follows:--1st grade, broad run; 2d grade, small pearl; 3d grade, large pearl; 4th grade, the small blubber; 5th grade, the large blubber; 6th grade, to a crack; 7th grade, caramel; boil the sugar for a few minutes and dip the point of a spoon into it; if the sugar falls in large drops from the spoon it has reached the 1st grade; continue the boiling for a few minutes longer; dip your first finger into it and press the finger against the thumb; then open the fingers and if the sugar forms a thread between the 2 fingers it has reached the 2d grade; after boiling a little longer dip in a spoon and if a pearl hangs onto a long thread of the spoon the sugar has reached the 3d grade; after a few minutes longer boiling take a little in a spoon, blow it and if the sugar falls from the spoon in blubbers it has reached the 4th grade; after a few minutes longer take a little of the sugar between your fingers and quickly dip into cold water; if the sugar can be formed into a ball it has reached the 5th grade; after a few minutes longer dip the finger into the sugar and then quickly into cold water; if the sugar can be broken it has reached the 6th grade; then set the saucepan in cold water; if it boils a few minutes longer it will have reached the 7th grade, or caramel. The princ.i.p.al care in boiling sugar is to use the exact amount of water. With too little water the sugar will curdle before it has boiled enough. If too much water is used the sugar will have to boil too long and will turn yellow. It should boil quickly and only for a short time. It will then stay white.

[Decoration]

APPENDIX.

CAKES.

+Cheese Torte.+-- One pound fresh pot cheese, pint sour cream, 1 ounce sweet almonds, 1 ounce bitter almonds, 1 cup seedless raisins, 2 tablespoonfuls flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoonful b.u.t.ter, 6 eggs, teaspoonful salt. Blanche and grind the almonds fine or grate them on a nutmeg grater; stir sugar, b.u.t.ter, and yolks to a cream, add all the ingredients, and last the beaten whites; mix well and set aside till following paste is made: Sift 1 pint of flour with 1 teaspoonful baking powder into a bowl, add 2 tablespoonfuls sugar, teaspoonful salt, and 1 tablespoonful b.u.t.ter. Rub the b.u.t.ter fine in the flour, add 1 cup of milk and 1 egg, mix together into a firm dough, work it lightly on a board till it does not stick to the hands, then roll it out thin. b.u.t.ter a large cheesecake pan, dust it with flour, and line the pan with the dough; pour in the cheese preparation, and bake in medium-hot oven till nearly done. In the meantime stir the yolks of 2 eggs with 3 tablespoonfuls granulated sugar to a cream, add 1 teaspoonful lemon juice and little grated rind, add the 2 beaten whites, and stir the whole 10 minutes; add last 3 level tablespoonfuls flour. When the cake is firm to the touch remove it from the oven, pour over this last mixture, and bake till done. Serve cold, dusted with sugar. The bitter almonds may be omitted if objected to, and the cake pan may be lined with puff paste or fine pie crust.

+Pistachio Torte.+-- Four ounces almond paste, 4 ounces ground pistachio nuts or almonds, the yolks of 16 eggs, the whites of 8 eggs, 3 ounces flour, pound sugar, teaspoonful extract of pistachio; rub the almond paste with the white of 1 egg fine; add the 16 yolks and sugar; stir 15 minutes, then add the ground pistachio nuts or almonds; continue the stirring 10 minutes; add the extract; beat the whites to a stiff froth; add the yolk mixture to the whites while beating constantly; beat the whole together 5 minutes; add the sifted flour; stir the flour in lightly; b.u.t.ter 2 large deep jelly-cake tins and dust them with the flour; fill in the mixture and bake in a slow oven. FILLING: Boil cup of sugar, with cup water to a caramel, then add it slowly to the beaten whites of 2 eggs; beat until cold; add teaspoonful vanilla sugar, cupful fine-cut candied pineapples, cupful fine-chopped pistachio nuts or almonds; spread this filling over one layer, put on the remaining layer. Ice the cake with pistachio icing made as follows: Mix 1 cup sifted powdered sugar with 3 tablespoonfuls boiling water and a little green coloring and pistachio flavoring; pour over the cake and let stand till firm.

+Kugelhupf+, also called +Bunt Kuchen.+-- One pound flour, 10 ounces b.u.t.ter, 2 yeast cakes, 6 whole eggs and 6 yolks, cup of sugar, teaspoonful salt, 1 cupful seeded raisins; break the yeast into a small bowl, add cupful lukewarm milk and 1 teaspoonful sugar; let it stand till the yeast rises to the surface, then add cupful of flour, mix to a stiff batter; cover and let stand till it is a light sponge. In the meantime stir b.u.t.ter and sugar to a cream; add the yolks one at a time, then alternately a little flour and 1 whole egg, till all are used; beat this with the right hand 10 minutes; add the raisins, and last the sponge; continue to beat 5 minutes; b.u.t.ter a large ribbed form with tube in the center; dust with powdered sugar, pour in the cake mixture; set the form in a warm place till the contents has risen to double its size; then place the form on a tin with salt and bake in a medium-hot oven about 45 minutes. When done, take it out of the oven, let it stand a few minutes, then turn the cake out of the form, dust it with sugar, and serve when cold.

+Jelly Roll.+-- One half pound sugar, 9 ounces flour, 1 teaspoonful baking powder, 1 gill of milk ( cupful), 3 eggs, teaspoonful lemon extract; sift flour, sugar, and powder into a bowl and make a hollow in the center; put in milk, eggs, and lemon extract, mix all together; b.u.t.ter a large shallow tin pan, cover with paper, spread on the mixture thin and evenly, bake in slow oven. When done, remove the pan, let it stand a few minutes to cool off a little, then turn it upside down on a clean piece of paper, remove the paper carefully from the cake which has laid in the pan, spread some currant jelly over the surface, roll the cake up like a music roll, let it lie rolled in the paper till cold. This preparation is also nice for lady fingers.

+Election Cake.+-- One and a half pint lukewarm milk, 1 pound sugar, pound lard, pound b.u.t.ter, 2 pounds flour, the whites of 4 eggs, 1 pound citron, 1 pound seeded raisins, 1 teaspoonful mace, cupful rum, 3 yeast cakes. Break the yeast into a cup of lukewarm milk, add 1 teaspoonful sugar, set the cup in a warm place till the yeast rises to the surface, put 1 cupful flour into a bowl, add the yeast, mix into a stiff batter, cover, and set in a warm place to rise till the sponge is very light. In the meantime stir b.u.t.ter, lard, and sugar to a cream, add the mace, then alternately milk and flour, then the fruit and rum, and last the 4 whites beaten to a stiff froth; beat the whole with the hand 10 minutes, then add the sponge; continue to beat a few minutes longer, cover, and set it in a warm place to rise till double its size; b.u.t.ter and dust with flour a large round cake pan, pour in the cake mixture, and bake in a medium-hot oven till done. When cold, ice the cake with rum icing.

+Small Sponge Cake.+-- Three eggs, cup granulated sugar, cup flour, the grated rind of lemon, and a little lemon juice. Stir the 3 yolks with the sugar 15 minutes, then add the lemon; beat the whites to a stiff froth, add them to the yolks, and beat till the sugar is all dissolved, which will take about 10 minutes, then sift in the flour, stir the flour in lightly; b.u.t.ter and dust with flour a small round pan, pour in the mixture, and bake in a slow oven.

+Apple Ringlets.+-- Peel, core, and cut into thick slices 4 large tart apples, mix cup of flour with teaspoonful baking powder, teaspoonful b.u.t.ter, and teaspoonful salt. Break 1 egg into cup of cold water, beat until it foams, add the water and egg to the flour, and mix into a batter. Melt 1 tablespoonful lard and b.u.t.ter in a frying pan, dip the apple slices into the batter, put them into the frying pan, not too many at once, and fry light brown on both sides, keeping the pan covered while the frying is going on. Serve dusted with sugar.

+Baking-Powder Rolls.+-- One pint flour, 1 heaping teaspoonful baking powder, tablespoonful b.u.t.ter, teaspoonful salt, pint milk, 1 egg, 1 teaspoonful sugar. Sift flour, salt, sugar, and powder into a bowl, add the b.u.t.ter and rub it fine with the flour, mix the egg and milk together, pour a little of the egg milk into a cup, add the remaining to the flour, mix all together with a knife into a firm dough, turn it on to a floured board, and work it together to smooth the dough, roll it out inch in thickness, then cut it into rounds, brush them over with a little melted b.u.t.ter, fold them over and set them on a b.u.t.tered tin, brush the rolls over with the egg milk which was set aside, and bake in a quick oven. A good plan is to keep the rolls covered with b.u.t.tered paper the first 10 minutes while baking.

+Waffles.+-- Four ounces b.u.t.ter, 6 eggs, 4 ounces flour, 1 tablespoonful sugar, a pinch of mace, and a little grated lemon rind, pint whipped cream. Stir the b.u.t.ter to a cream, add alternately 1 yolk, then a little flour until both are used, add the sugar, the mace, and lemon, then the whipped cream, and last 5 whites whipped to a stiff froth; rub a waffle iron with fork, pour 1 tablespoonful batter into each compartment, and bake the waffles light brown on both sides. Serve dusted with sugar.

+Gateau a la Weckesser.+-- Half pound of granulated sugar, 13 yolks, 9 whites, pound flour, and the rind and juice of 1 lemon. Stir sugar and yolks for 25 minutes by the clock, then beat the whites to a stiff froth; add the yolks and sugar slowly to the white while beating constantly, add the lemon, continue the beating 5 minutes, then add the sifted flour, stir in lightly; b.u.t.ter a large round pan and dust it with flour, pour in the batter, place the cake on a pan of salt, and bake in a slow oven. When done, turn it on to a board, which should be dusted with powdered sugar; let it lie till cold, then spread a layer of pineapple marmalade over the cake, ice it with white sugar glaze, and decorate the cake with candied fruit, of plums, apricots, and cherries. The fruit must be cut into small slices and the cherries in small dice.

+Lady Cake.+-- Six ounces b.u.t.ter, pound sugar, 1 pound flour, 10 whites of eggs, pint whipped cream, 1 teaspoonful baking powder, 1 teaspoonful vanilla sugar. Stir b.u.t.ter and sugar to a cream until white and frothy, add the vanilla sugar, sift flour and baking powder together, beat pint cream until stiff; beat also the 10 whites to a stiff froth, then add alternately the three ingredients to the creamed b.u.t.ter and sugar; b.u.t.ter and dust with flour a large round pan, pour in the mixture, and bake in a medium-hot oven. When done and cold, ice it with clear icing.