Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-01-22
THE BIRTHDAY CAKE.
Something to Delight the Hearts OF the
Little Ones.


Something to Delight the Hearts Of the
Little Ones.
The custom OF having a special cake,
round and frosted, for the birthday
gives q pleasure to the smaller children
of family, and sometimes to older
ones, which, when once begun. no
amount of toys or costly gifts can take
the place of. The cake need not be rich
or difficult to make, for the fact that IL
is specially prepared gives the plainest
loaf flavor not commonly tasted. II
must, however, be frosted and decorat-
ed, and cut by the happy child's own
hand, in order to secure this mysteri.
Gus sweetness In nearly every home
one kind of cake wins favor above all
others, and this is the one par excel
lence for the birthday cake, although
for wee little ones hardly out of baby.
hood simple sponge or angel cake is
the least harmful of all the toothsome
species But though the cake may be
familiar, the frosting and decking may
be varied to please the fancy and excite
the curiosity on every recurring birth
day.
Besides the well-known frosting
made of whites OF eggs and sugar, there
are several other kinds moro economic
al or less troublesome TO make. A
frosting of granulated sugar and boil
ing water in the proportions of one
teacup of sugar TO five tablespoonfuls
of water, is satisfactory and is quickly
made. A certain knack in manipula-
ton is needed to do it easily, which
comes largely with repeated making.
The sugar and water should boil brisk.
ly for four minutes, and should be stir
red only enough to keep it from burn
ing. If the Are is hot placing tho
saucepan of boiling sugar in basin Of
hot water--making a sort of double
boiler-is a preventive from scorching
At the end of four minutes the sugar
will thread slightly II dropped from
the tip of a spoon. Then take II, and
placing the saucepan in dish of cold
water, stir till the frosting cools and
thickens Spread it on the cake rapid
ly, as it hardens fast, dipping broad
knife in hot water to smooth over the
loaf. This frosting is not to be stirred
as long as uncooked frosting for it will
harden beyond spreading A steel pal
ette-knife or spatuls is most convenient
for spreading the frosting. This same
frosting can be made into chocolate
icing by adding three table-spoonfuls Of
grated chocolate to the boiling sugar.
Delicate pink or straw-colored fros.ing
is particularly attractive to childish
eyes, and is made by adding a table.
spoonful of colored sugar, sold by con-
fectioners in the same way the choco-
late is added. II eggs are plentiful, the
white OF one added to the boiled frost
ing makes IL of finer grain and easier
to spread. The white of egg should be
beaten to stiff froth, and then the su-
gar poured upon it gradually after hav-
ing boiled four minutes, and the whole
then we'll beaten Frosting made
OF maple sugar is delicious, and
particularly well-suited TO spiced
cakes 1t is made by the same method
as the white sugar frosting, but re-
quires ono minute longer boiling. Milk
frosting is another favorite with chill
dren, and is prettiest to look at when
spread on soft yellow cake. Boil to-
gether teacup Of sugar and half a one
of milk, with teaspoonful Of butter,
until little dropped in cold water will
thicken. Then beat il thoroughly, and
flavor with vanilla. Long beating
makes the frosting white and creamy.
Surrounding cakes with candles, one
for each year. is a German custom. The
candles are melted slightly at the ends,
and then stuck upon the edge Of stiff
white paper which is put between the
cake and it's plate, and is cut two inches
larger than the loaf Tiny little flags,
whose sticks will run easily down into
the cake and float the Stars and Stripes
during the birthday feast, are liked by
both girls and boys The plate is con-
cealed by a fringe of red, white and
blue tissue paper The paper is folded
in stripes. and then cut like fringe. and
the circular form given it by lacking
little pleats in it with needle and thread.
The fringe is laid on the plate first,
and the cake nestled in it Pink sugar
hearts on white frosting, with fluffy
pink paper fringe, delight little girl,
and make an apt ST. Valentines cake,
Favorite flowers arranged In fern
fronds, smilax, or their own LEAKAGE
never fail TO please, while candy stars
and notices crafty child who has
just learned to read. The name and
date spelled out with colored sugared
caraway seeds, however awkward the
lettering, give a satisfaction far great
err than the effort expended Candy
rabbits and little sugar cupids will
bring shout Of JOY from the younger
children, while Santa Claus, with his
sprig Of a Christmas tree, will be voted
lust right" for a December baby
Harper's Bazaar.
| GeoRraphy Cana.