Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-02-19
THE BIRTHDAY CAKE.
Something to Delight the Hearts of the
Little Ones.

Little Ones.
The custom Of having a special cake,
round and frosted, for the birthday
gives 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. 1t
must, however, be frosted and decorat-
ed, and cut by the happy childs 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 more 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 fire is hot, placing the
saucepan of boiling sugar in basin of
hot matchmaking sort of double
boiler-is preventive from scorching
At the end of four minutes the sugar
will thread slightly if dropped from
the tip of a spoon. Then take it, and
placing the saucepan in dish of cold
water stir till the frosting eools 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
DIS long as tificoolSed frosting, for it will
harden beyond spreading. A steel pal
ette-knife or spatiila is most convenient
for spreading the frosting. This same
frosting can be made into chocolate
icing by adding three ia ble-spoonfuls OF
grated chocolate to the boiling sugar.
Delicate pink or stfaw-colored frostng
Is particularly attractive to childish
eyes, and is made by adding table
spoonful of colored sugar, sold by con
fectioners, in the same way the choco
late is added If eggs are plentiful, the
white of one added to the boiled frost
ing makes it Of finer grain and easier
to spread The white Of egg should be
beaten to n 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 spiceG
cakes 1t is made by the same methoC
as the white sugar frosting, but re
quires one minute longer boiling. Milk
frosting is another favorite with chill
dren, and is prettiest to look at wher
spread on soft yellow cake. Boil to
gether teacup Of sugar and half one
of milk, with a teaspoOnful of butter
until little dropped in cold water vii
thicken. Then beat it thoroughly and
flavor with vanilla. Long beating
makes the frostng white and creamy
Surrounding cakes with candles, Ont
for each year is German custom, The
candles are melted slightly at the ends
and then stuck upon the edge Of stiff
white paper which is put between thu
cake and its plate and is cut two niche
larger than the loaf Tiny little hlgs
whose sticks will run easily down int
the cake and float the Stars and Stripe
during the birthday feast, are liked b,
both girls and boys, The plate is con
cealed by fringe of red, white arr
, blue tissue paper. The paper is foldc,
: in stripes, and then cut like fringe AM
the circular form given it by tackinl
little pleats in it with needle and thread
The fringe is laid on the plate first
3 and the cake nestled in it. Pink suga
$ hearts on white frosting, with fluff,
5 pink paper fringe, delight little girl
and make an apt st. Valentine cake
0 Favorite flowers arranged in ferl
S fronds, smilax, or their own leafag
! never fail to please, while candy star
and notices crafty child who ha
Just learned to read The name an
0 date spelled out with colored sugare
}. caraway seeds, however awkward tn
t lettering, give satisfaction far great
e er than the effort expended Caud
t rabbits and little sugar cupids Wi
d bring shout of Joy from the younge
g children, while Santa Claus, with hi
k sprig of Christmas tree, will be vote
S Just right for December baby.
h Harper's Bazaar.
l..