Evening star., 1900-12-22

SAI ~ MIA L, DLOL MOI
cracking Almond pastef can be procured
already prepared. In coloriAg candies use
spinach Juice for green, .an few drops of
prepared cochineal for pink or carmine, a
little caramel for light brown and amber
carrot juice, a little of the golk Of egg or
the grated yellow rind of a deep colored
orange worked to a pulp for yellow, and
the juice Of blood beets for deeper red
Before making candies, have everything
in readiness. If fondant Is to be used make
1t the day before and keep In a cool place
until needed. A simple rufe for this cream,
which will form the foundation of the most
of your candies, is as follows:
Put two pounds Of granulated sugar and
a cup of water in an agateware saucepan
Do not stir at all, but when the syrup has
boiled rapidly for six or eight minutes dip
a fork into 1t and hold 1t above the pan
II it threads remove at once from the
fire and pour into bowl to cool. When
you can bear your finger in 1T begin stir
ring vigorously until it Is thick paste re-
sembing lard Knead thoroughly and set
away covered closely with a piece of damp
cheesecloth until needed. When ready to
use fondant 1t may be made flexible by set
ting the bowl containing it in basin of
hot water. Stir constantly while melting,
but be very careful not to splash the water
into 1t. If it seems too thick add a few
drops of water, using extreme caution not
to get in too much. When the right con-
sistency cut up into different shapes as
needed, and color. For cream walnuts the
lump of fondant should be of moderate
size and we'll shaped before placing between
the meats. With dates and cherries the
fruit should almost hide the sugar. Choc-
olate creams should be carefully shaped
before dipping, striving always to make
them as attractive to the eye as the con-
fectiener's.
Marzipan is German Christmas confec-
tiOn that is becoming very popular in this
country. 1t is sweet and delicious paste
made of almond meal and sugar and fash
ioned into various fanciful forms. The best
Marzipan comes from Lubeck, where the
cCnfection originated. The legend runs that
years ago when there was a famine In that
quaint old city the Bishop Marcus had al
monds ground into flour and the flour made
into bread and distributed to the people.
This bread was called Marcus bread-in the
language of the church Marci-panis, com
pleted eventually into Marzipan. a Mar
Zipan pig IS favorite model for the sweet,
though fruits, flowers and other figures are
largely used.
To make a Roman punch. boil together
for twenty minutes pound of granulated
sugar and pint Of water. Remove from
the fire. add the juice of six lemons, two
oranges and one pint of green tea, ana SET
avay to cool. Put in small saucepan over
the fire one gill each of granulated sugar
and water and boil five minutes. Beat the
whites of four eggs stiff and turn tne nol
syrup over it gradually. stirring an tne
time, until we'll mixed. Pack the first mix
ture and freeze like ice cream. When
frozen add the egg mixture, two taplespoonss
fuls of Jamaica rum ana Wihes!ass "
sherry. Beat two or three tlmes 10 iIiiN ~
we'll then remove the beater, coVr the
freezer with a layer of paper and then the
cover and pack with ice and salt
If one desires combination of plum
pudding and ice, plum pudding grace ms
that requirement. 1t Is made by crum-
bling canned plum pudding or frult CAKE
into chocolate ice cream, Whlcn Is tneii
frozen in bricks and served in slices with
whipped cream.
To make cheese sticks or straws, mix
one cupful Of any rich grated cheese with
one and a half cups of flour, saltspoon
of salt, dash of cayenne and neapins
I tablespoonful a of butter. Stir. into TINS the
volk of one egg and enough milk or water
TO make a stiff dough. Roll out like pie
crust cut in strips like straws ABOUT iouI
inches long or roll, if preferred. like lead
pencil. Place carefully on the reversed
bottom of a dripping pan, sprinkle little
grated cheese over them and bake IN
moderate oven Until golden brown. Serve.
crossed on a plate, log-cahin fashion.
A charming Christmas eve custom in
one home is the reading aloud of Christ
mas literature. After the stockings are
hung and before the children are ready
to be tucked snug in their beds, the
whole family gather in front of the fire,
while each one, large and small con-
tributes something toward the Invocation
of the Christmas spirit.
An notwithstanding peppermint cream
is made by coloring some of the fondant
a faint green and rolling it in the hands
around a blanched almond, allowing part
of the white kernel to show.
For nut creams, chop almonds, hickory
butternuts or English walnuts rather line
and mix into fOndant which has been
kneaded smooth and soft. Add If desired.
a few pistachio nuts. or a little almond
paste. Form into small rolls, dipping, When
cold, into melted orange fondant, or make
into bars or fiat cakes.
Cocoanut creams are made by working
two tablespoonfuls desiccated cocoanut
into three tablespoonfuls of fondant, add
ing few drops of vanilla, and enough
confeCtioners sugar to prevent sticking
Make into small balls and place on par
affn paper to harden. If variety Is de-
sired, dip part of the balls in melted fon-
dant, favored with rose vanilla or orange
A pretty and tasteful garnish for game
are orange and lemon straws. To make
them, cut the yellow peel into narrow
strips. Have ready heavy syrup made
of cupful Of granulated sugar and
cup Of water. Put the rinds into the
boiling syrup and cook until clear. Re
move, roll in coarse, white sugar, lay on
sheets Of brown paper and put in cool,
dry place to become crisp.
In using lemons as a garnlSh for fish,
dishes croquettes, cut lengthwise in
eighths or quarters, instead Of crosSWiSe
slices, which involves a waste of juice.
A bit Of Christmas superstition is that
hollywood brings good luck. A little
piece cut from the very heart of the tree
Is claimed to be most efffcaciouS, and If
in the shape Of a cross the luck will be
all the better.
The down south negroes believe that a
sprig of mistletoe hung over the cabin
door will bring good luck for the coming
year.
Aside from it's osculatory significance,
the mistletOe has other features to rec
ommend it to the good German frau who