Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-09
cHnisTmss can RS.



Hnrper's Bazaar.
From the dayB OF Jack liornnr, who,
in eating his christmas pie"--that
was shaped like coffin to represent
tho mapger OF Bethlehem--put in his
thumb and pulled out plum, a
Christmas cake has seemed incomplete
without an abundance of plums and
spices. At other seasons digestive
powers may be taken into considera-
tion: hut for the especial season of
good cheer the general motto seems to
be, the best of everything and plenty
of it.
Our great grandmothers' receipts are
sure to be laden with sugar and spice
and all that's nice, with frequent
dashes of brandy and wine. and such
wonderful ingenuity in The way of in.
gradients that each seems 10 exhaust
tbs alphabet of cooking materials.
Ii would appear, however, as a saving
clause, to have bueu the custom to par.
take sparingly Of These mountains of
richness at any given time, az great
stress is laid unun their keeping
powers. Indeed, regular fruit or
black cake was built up, as III were, at
intervals, and took for ths time being
tho entire mind and body of all who
were engaged in it. There were pain.
full housekeepers then, as there were
painful preachers, and lacking all
tho labor saving appliances OF the
present day, they furnished forth a
feast with infinite toll. and were
usually too tired to partake Of it.
Their treasured reGeipts entail far lass
work now than they did then, and
their fortunate descendants Can even
improve upon them.
rich fruit cake will last il put in
some generally inaccessible place, and a
little of 1t. except with schoolnoy,
goes great way. Many persons think
it absurd to make such a thing, even
If its use is approved, because lit
saves so much trouble TO get il at q
confectionsr's, and 1T ia nearly as
cheap" They forget, however, that
even wheE bought at the best places,
where such things arc matle in quanti
ties, there are often unpleasant sur
prises in the shape OF gritty substances,
raiRin seeds. currant stems, &C., which
imply hasty handling. to say nothing
of the strong temptation to use inferior
and even hurtful materials.
The home made cake ia manipulated
with we'll washed hands, and keen
eyes for all cuntraband substances,
while none but the best materials are
permitted to enter into its composition /;
and il less SNOWY in appearance, M
professionals have ways that are dark
in the matter of icing and general
finish, ii can at least be eaten in per
feet confidence.
But it is quite time to begin its
manufacturer; and among several good
receipts for this browning triumph of
the cake makers skill. this old
fashioned formula for Brides Cake
carries off the palm. Everything that
can hs prepared the day before the
cake 10 made should DO ready at hand,
as by thus dividing the labor it will
not appear 30 herculean task.
Ono pound OF powdered sugar and IA
ounces of butter are frat creamed as
smoothly as possible, warming them a
littls at first II the weather is very
cold. Twelve eggs are then beaten to
the extreme of lightness, and worked
into the butter and sugar alternately
with pound of -four, stirring very
hard. When we'll mixed, add table.
spounful of cinnamon, Of mace, 2 of
cloves. sitting them all and grated
nutmeg, with a gill OF cream and Il
half pint of brandy. Then 3 pounds
Of raisins, seeded and halyed; . pounds
of sultanas, picked, washed and dried
pound of currants ditto, and pound
OF citron cut into strips--al OF the
fruits being we'll dredgsd with flour
Mix them in by degrees all through
the mass keeping out one. quarter OF
the citrun to strew on the top, and stir
for 10 or 10 minutes as hard as possible.
A tablespoonful of orange flower water
added gives delicate perfumed flavor.
Bake in pans liued with buttered
paper, nearly filling them; smooth with
a wet knife blade, and bake in a
moderate oven about three hours.
Leave in the pan until cold; then rub
it with -four, wipe with cloth, and
ice with white'of egg icing, finishing
with chocolate or orange icing.