Milford chronicle., 1925-12-18
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CHRISTMAS GOODIES
By Marjorie Howe Dixon
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In the old country and in OuI
pioneer times, too, days, sometimes
weeks, previous to Christmas, were
spent in preparation for the holi-
day itself,-days of cooking and
baking, days of much vigorous beat
ing with large spoons in bowls,
much thought and joyous planning
being mixed in, with all sorts of
agreeable condiments to make the
festive Christmas goodies.
Since really more than half the
fun lies in getting ready for Christ
mas-tO the children the holiday of
the year-some suggestions are
given here, in many of which the
children may share the work and
fun of producing them.
Children can make a number of
Christmas candies with a little su-
pervisiOn. Dates stuffed with nuts
or fondant, are delicious and easy
to make. Stoning the dates and roll
ing them in sugar, daughter can
manage, while mother prepares the
fOndana,-the simplest kind being
powdered sugar stirred into white
lof egg or cream. And son can crack
and pick out walnut meats,-thOugh
he may have to be watched a Bit
they mustn't evapoFate too rapidly,
you know. Nut meats tempt us all
to nibble just a little. ,
Old-fashiOned Candy
While mother is mixing fOndant,
perhaps she will make a larger
amount, part of which will go into
a fruiE candy. Take a few dates and
sOme raisins and nut meats and run
them through the meat grinder.
These should be worked into the
fOndant and rolled into a loaf, about
an inch and a half in diameter. This
little loaf can be sliced with a wet
knife and the slices allowed to stand
over night. For some families it is
the special Christmas candy,-not
made at any other time of the year.
"A gift box to send away to some
one who will otherwise miss the
homemade goodies offers splendid
opportunities for one ITO think up
new combinations to surprise this
loved one. A spice cake recipe will
make about three small round cakes
one of which will be ample for
centerpiece for the box we are to
send. White frosting with a pretty
design of red candies with fresh
holly leaves pressed fiat into the
surface will be a welcome sight to
the far away one.
Spice Drops for Decorations
Around the centerpiece which is
in a sturdy tin box, compartments |
of cardboard can be arranged, each |
to hold a different candy. Besides |
the stuffed dates, there should be |
NUS and figs, and more stuffed can
dies made of prunes and dried april |
cots. Spice drops scattered about |
among the larger fruits will add to |
the gay appearance.
If one is skillful at candy-making |
now is the time to hunt up recipes |
for those old favOrites, fudge, pan
oche and divinity. A variation of |
fudge can be produced by adding
shredded cocoanut or walnut meats |
or chopped marshmallOws. Panoche /
the brown sugar fudge, will be
with nuts or marshmal-
lows as just mentioned.
Divinity, the candy made with
beaten eggs,-fOr the writer ever a
most elusive dainty, it so seldom
came out right-shOuld be revived
at Christmas time and added to our
Christmas joys.
Clever Ideas with GumdrOpS
A year ago all sorts of clever
ideas were worked out with gum
drops fastened together with tooth
picks. Little mannikins, Christmas
trees, nonsense of all kinds, amused
U.s. both in the construction and the
receiving. A little foolish gumdrop
nan should certainly be added to
any going-away box of goodies to
cheer the recipient with his Vacu-
JUS expression and his limb demea-
lor.
Decorated cup cakes would make
nice fat little packages for Christ
mas stockings. Covered with wax
PAPER and then gay wrappings they
Mould be most decorative too, on
he Christmas tree. CitrOn could be
lsed to stimulate holly, with small
ed candies for berries, to decorate
he white frostings.
And OF course, some where, some
way, there mus6 be arranged a gen.
,rous supply of hard candies for
besides the other favor
tes, peppermint candies and striped
anes.
"A little nonsense now and then
Is relished by the best of men,"
Likes Man-Made Candy
Well, you know,-a box received
Y the writer comes to mind. Be-
ore Christmas she expressed admir-
tiOn for the handsome chocolate
reams, painstakingly manufactur-
d by neighbor's husband. When
man does make candy he usually
lakes it well. Then the chocolates
Tere forgotten.
A fine large box was delivered to
ne writer Christmas with an apol-
gy-all the candy, boxes had been
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