The articles that come under this head are made by the sugar being
brought to the ball, when it is grained by rubbing it against the sides
of the pan. From this all fancy articles are made, such as fruit-eggs,
cups, vases, etc.
BURNT ALMONDS.--Take some fine Valencia or Jordon almonds, and sift all
the dust from them; put a pint of clarified syrup into the pan for each
pound of almonds, and place it with the almonds on the fire; boil to
the ball, then take it off and stir the mixture well with a spatula,
that the sugar may grain and become almost a powder; whilst each almond
has a coating. Put them into a coarse wire or cane sieve, and sift
all the loose sugar from them, and also separate those which stick
together. When cold, boil some more clarified syrup to the feather,
put in the almonds, give them two or three boils in it, take them from
the fire, and stir them with the spatula as before, until the sugar
grains; sift and separate them, and keep them in glasses or boxes. A
third coat may be given them in the same manner as the second, if they
are required large.
BURNT ALMONDS--RED.--The same as the last, using prepared cochineal to
color the syrup while it is boiling.
COMMON BURNT ALMONDS.--These are made with raw sugar and skimmings, if
you have any. Put some water with the sugar to dissolve it; when it is
near boiling, add the almonds, and let them boil in it until it comes
to the small ball; or when the almonds crack, take them from the fire,
and stir them with a spatula until the sugar grains and becomes nearly
a powder; put them into a sieve, and separate the lumps.
ARTIFICIAL FRUIT, EGGS, ETC.--Prepare molds with plaster of Paris from
the natural objects you wish to represent; make them in two, three, or
more pieces, so as to relieve freely, and have a hole at one end into
which the sugar may be poured; let them be made so as each part may be
fitted together exactly; and for this purpose make two or three round
or square indentions on the edge of one part, so that the corresponding
piece, when cast, will form the counterpart, which may at all times be
fitted with precision. Let the object you would take the cast from be
placed in a frame made either of wood or of stiff paper, embed a part
of it in fine sand, soft pipe-clay, or modeling wax, leaving as much of
the mold exposed as you wish to form at one time, and oil it with sweet
oil; mix some of the prepared plaster with water, to the consistency of
thick cream, and pour over it; when this is set, proceed with the other
portions in the same manner until it is complete. Let them dry and
harden for use.
Take a sufficient quantity of syrup (clarified with charcoal or animal
black) to fill the mold, and boil to the small ball; rub some of
it against the side to grain it; when it turns white, pour it into
the molds; take them out when set, and put them into the stove at a
moderate heat to dry. The molds must be soaked for an hour or two in
cold water previously to their being used, which will be found better
than oiling them, as it keeps the sugar delicately white, which oil
does not. Color your articles according to nature with liquid colors
(see Colors) and camel's-hair pencils or the usual pigments sold in
boxes may be used. If a gloss is required, the colors should be mixed
with a strong solution of gum-arabic or isinglass, to the desired tint.
Eggs and fruit may be made as light and as apparently as perfect as
nature, by having molds to open in two, without any orifice for filling
them. Fill one half with the grained sugar, immediately close the mold,
and turn it round briskly, that it may be covered all over equally. To
accomplish this, it is necessary to have an assistant, that it may be
done as speedily as possible.
COLTSFOOT OR HOARHOUND CANDY.--Make a strong infusion of the herbs
(see Infusions under the head of Syrups), and use it for dissolving
the sugar, instead of taking syrup; raw sugar is mostly used for those
candies. Boil it to the ball, grain it and finish as ginger candy.
FILBERTS AND PISTACHIOS.--These are done the same as burnt almonds, but
they are usually denominated prawlings, the nuts being only put into
the sugar for two or three minutes before it is taken from the fire and
stirred.
GINGER CANDY.--Take clarified syrup and boil it to the ball; flavor it
either with the essence of ginger or the root in powder: then with a
spoon or spatula rub some of it against the side of the pan until you
perceive it turn white; pour it into small square tins with edges, or
paper cases, which have been oiled or buttered, and put it in a warm
place, or on a hot stone, that it may become dappled. The syrup should
be colored yellow, while boiling, with a little saffron.
LEMON PRAWLINGS.--Made the same as orange prawlings.
ORANGE PRAWLINGS.--Take four or five Havana oranges, and cut off the
peel in quarters, or small lengths; take off all the pith or white
part of the peel, leaving only the yellow rinds, and cut in small
pieces, about an inch long, and the size of pins. Have about a pint of
clarified sugar boiling on the fire; when it comes to the blow, put
in the pieces of peel, and let them boil until the sugar attains the
small ball; take them off, and stir them with the spatula until the
sugar grains and hangs about them; sift off the loose sugar; when cold,
separate and keep them in a dry place.
PEPPERMINT, LEMON AND ROSE CANDY are made after the same manner as
Ginger Candy, coloring the lemon with saffron, and the rose with
cochineal.